Healthy Weight Loss Diet – The Truth About Fats

It may surprise you to know that a human brain contains about 60% fat and that the type of fats you consume play a direct role in a healthy weight loss diet as well as in how your brain functions. The good fats we’re talking about are omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, found in some nuts and in fish.

Studying fats in foods can become confusing. We are told to look for low fat foods and we know that there are good fats and bad fats but which is which? Let’s take a look at the types of fats out there. There are saturated fats which you will find in dairy products and in fatty, marbleized meats. Once considered dangerous, they are actually safe enough to eat in moderate amounts. In some cases, people thrive on a healthy weight loss diet high in saturated fats.

Trans fats are also called hydrogenated fats and are solid at room temperature. They are known to elevate bad LDL cholesterol levels and lower good HDL cholesterol. This can be very unhealthy and can be associated with coronary artery disease. High trans fats in the diet can be related to type II diabetes.

Canola oil and olive oil (of which olive oil is the best) are made from monounsaturated fats and are extremely healthy in a healthy weight loss diet. They can be used to cook with or as part of salad dressings.

Omega-3 fatty acids are extremely healthy for you. They are known to maximize the body’s response to insulin and to affect the neurotransmitters and other chemical messengers in the body. Omega 3 fatty acids aid in the cellular repair process when cells become damaged.

Omega 6 fatty acids have the opposite effect. They contribute to insulin resistance, impairing the repair of cells and affecting the body in a pro-inflammatory way. It’s vital for you to reduce your intake of omega 6 fatty acids and to increase the intake, during a healthy weight loss diet, of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega-6 is found especially in vegetable seed oils and these should be avoided if at all possible. The best oil to eat is extra virgin olive oil and to get omega-3 fatty acids from nuts and fish. Eating omega-3 fatty acids help you reduce the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, cancer and some degenerative diseases. Omega 6 fatty acids can be found in oils like corn oil, sunflower oil, soy oil and other vegetable oils. Doctors say our intake of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids should be in the range of 1 to 1 but that, in the usual American diet, the actual ratio is between 15 and 50 to one-far too high.

As part of a healthy weight loss diet, omega 3 fatty acids help prevent coronary artery disease, improves your energy, staves off Alzheimer’s disease, the hyperactive state, depression and cancer. It is especially helpful in pregnant women, who avoid early births with omega 3 fatty acids. The very best omega 3 fatty acids are found only in fish. Unfortunately a lot of fish contains toxic amounts of mercury. Krill oil is a good alternative to fish and is loaded with antioxidants-more so than in fish oils.

Regardless, there are many good reasons to be eating omega 3 oils and to use them as a supplement if you can’t get it in your diet. It is healthy for you and will prevent many diseases. To get started on your own healthy weight loss diet, download your free copy of “An Expert’s Guide to Weight Loss-Seven Red Hot Secrets to Turbo Charge your Metabolism and Boost your Weight Loss” by clicking on the link below.

Get access to Dr. Berkowitz’s FREE “Experts Guide to Weight Loss – 7 Red Hot Secrets To TurboCharge Your Metabolism And Boost Your Weight Loss”. Learn the 7 secrets to boost your weight loss.
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Frustrated by the confusion in the Weight Loss marketplace, through his research Dr. Bill developed a Weight Loss program founded on the Laws of Human Physiology. He has also developed a companion Exercise Program that turns up the metabolism in just minutes a day.

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Benefits of Fish Oil for Fitness and Health

When the words oils and fats are mentioned, health-conscious individuals tend to run for cover. What they fail to realize is that there are good fats and bad fats. Complete avoidance of intake of oils and fats would actually be detrimental – rather than beneficial – to their health.

The Truth about Fish Oil

Essential fatty acids must always be part of our daily diet – without them, we take one step closer to our deaths. Essential fatty acids are divided into two families: omega-6 EFAs and omega-3 EFAS.

Although there are only very slight differences to distinguish the two groups of essential fatty acids from each other, studies have revealed that too much intake of omega-6 EFAs can lead to inflammation, blood clotting and tumor growth. The good news, however, is that the opposite is true for omega-3 EFAs. Omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils while omega-3 EFAs can be found in fish oils among other foods.

Omega-6 vs. Omega-3

Physicians and scientists are of the same opinion that the cause behind increasing cases of heart disease, hypertension or high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, premature aging and certain kinds of cancer is none other than an imbalanced intake of omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.

As mentioned earlier on, omega-6 EFAs can be found in vegetable oils. This includes but is not limited to corn oil and soy oil, both of which contains high amounts of linoleic acid. Omega-3 EFAs on the other hand can be found also in marine plankton and walnut and flaxseed oils. It should be significant to take note that fatty fish and fish oils contain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fatty acids that have been observed to provide many benefits to the human body. In the early 1970’s, a study on Greenland Eskimos have revealed that one of the major reasons why they rarely suffer from heart diseases is because of their high-fat diet (mainly composed of fish).

The two essential fatty acids, EPA and DHA, are also helpful in preventing atherosclerosis, heart attacks, depression and various forms of cancer. Fish oil supplemented food have also proven to be useful in treating illnesses like rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, Raynaud’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Other Benefits of Fish Oil

There are a lot more illnesses and situations in which intake of fish oil has proven to be significantly beneficial.

Making the Heart Healthier

The heart is inarguably one of the most important parts of our body and having an unhealthy heart means having to suffer a rather limited lifespan. Naturally, it’s in our best interests to keep our hearts happy and healthy and one way of doing that is eating food that contains fish oil.

In Athens, Greece, for instance, a study was made to show if there was a direct relationship between high fish diet and inflammation of blood vessels. The results revealed that those who ate more fish than the others had a lower level of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6, factors that are commonly used to measure likelihood of blood vessel inflammation. These benefits remained even when the various risks associated with high fish diet were taken into account.

Fish to Become Thin

In Perth, Australia, a study had revealed that fish consumption can be used against hypertension and obesity. Researchers of the UWA (University of Western Australia) have discovered that a weight-loss diet which includes a regular amount of fish consumption can be quite effective in reducing blood pressure and improving glucose tolerance.

Fish Oil to Combat Asthma

People suffering from respiratory problems like asthma tend to be perceived as unfit and unhealthy. They should now be pleased to learn that certain studies have revealed the benefits of fish oil for asthma-burdened-individuals. Statistics show that approximately 20 to 25% of children today suffer one form of asthma or another at a certain point in their lives. And certain evidence reveals a regular diet of food with high linoleic acid content as the reason behind it.

Researchers of UW (University of Wyoming) conducted a study by subjecting a number of children to a high-fish diet while others continued with their regular diet. Results revealed that the participants who ate more fish were less prone to asthma attacks and were able to breathe more easily as well.

Consult Your Nutritionist Now

Nothing is good when consumed or used excessively but complete avoidance of a particular food type is equally harmful as well. Ask your nutritionist for the right amount of fish intake for your age and health status.