Fats are usually considered the worst thing in the world. Nowadays, people try everything to stay away from and cut down on fat. They regard fat as an enemy, the worst thing in the world that will hinder their way towards a healthy life. But are they? Should fat receive such a bad reputation?

Yes. I agree that the media representation of fat doesn’t do much help. Your surroundings and media have instilled the idea that fats are the worst thing in the world and you should stay away from them at all costs. This negative impression about fat makes you want to stay away from it. But is it the right thing to do? Before making up your mind, why don’t we get to know fats better?

What is fat?

The food we eat mainly contains three nutrients; protein, fat and carbohydrates. Yes, fat, also known as fatty acid or lipid, is a nutrient essential for our body’s functioning. This particular nutrient is called triglyceride, which is made by combining three molecules. Most of the fats needed for us are created by our bodies.

But certain fats have to be provided through food. These fats are called essential fats. An essential fat will have both Omega-3 and Omega-6, which is highly beneficial for your body’s functioning. Fat is classified into different kinds based on two criteria: the no. of carbon atoms they contain and the number of carbon-carbon double bonds it has. For a better understanding, let’s look at the types of fats available in the market.

Types of fats

Fat is divided into three main categories, namely,

Saturated fat
Trans fat
Unsaturated fat

Let’s look at each of these fats a bit closely.

Saturated fat

Saturated fat is an apt example of the phrase everything natural is not essentially good. These fats are commonly found in natural products. Animal products like meat, eggs and dairy items like cheese, cream, whole milk etc., contain saturated fat. You’ll probably be familiar with this fat in the name of “bad fat”.

This is one type of fat that contributed immensely to giving fats, in general, the title of the worst thing in the world. This fat which tends to be solid at room temperature will raise the level of LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) in your blood. This can ultimately increase your chance of contracting cardiovascular diseases or stroke.

Trans fat

This is another fat that remains solid at room temperature. Unlike saturated fats, these fats aren’t commonly found in natural sources. Processed foods are the major sources of trans fat in our diet. Essentially, trans-fat is created during the hydrogenation process of oil. It is the process where hydrogen gas is mixed in with oils under high pressure to stabilize them and increase their shelf life.

But, to tell you the truth, they are more dangerous than saturated fats. Do you know why? Trans fat not only increases the amount of LDL in your bloodstream but also reduces the level of HDL (high-density lipoprotein) in the blood. This protein removes excess fat from your body by taking it to the liver to be broken down. When HDL reduces in your blood, the fats that were supposed to be disposed of can’t get out and ultimately accumulate in your body.

Unsaturated fat

This is the type of fat that you should, by all means, include in your diet. When saturated and trans fat, their combined efforts gave the title of the worst thing in the world to fats. Unsaturated fat is the innocent bystander who suffers from this defamation. Unsaturated fats are found in abundance in natural sources. It is further divided into two categories, monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats.

Monounsaturated fat (MUFA)

Monounsaturated fats are found in avocados, nuts like almonds, hazelnuts, cashews, pecans, and seeds like pumpkin, sesame, sunflower seeds, etc. This fat is vital in protecting the heart and supports insulin sensitivity, fat storage, weight loss, and healthy energy levels. This is possible because of the monounsaturated fats’ ability to increase HDL and decrease LDL levels in the blood.

Polyunsaturated fat (PUFA)

Polyunsaturated fat is another beneficial kind of fat that doesn’t deserve the title of the worst thing in the world. This fat is found abundantly in plant and animal foods, such as vegetable oils like soybean, corn, and safflower. It can also be found in Walnuts, Flax seeds, salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, and trout.

There are two types of polyunsaturated fats, too; oils that contain Omega 3 and oils that contain Omega 6. In short, Omega 3 is mainly found in vegetable oils, and Omega 6 is majorly present in oily fishes. So are you wondering why this fat is particularly good for you?

Omega 3 polyunsaturated fat will help you to reduce inflammation. It also supports healthy hormone levels and cell membrane development. At the same time, Omega 6 fatty acids play an important role in supporting healthy brain and muscle functioning.

This is precisely why this fat, which helps you in multiple manners, doesn’t deserve to be called the worst thing in the world.

Are fats the worst thing in the world?

So, let’s come back to our question. Are fats the worst things in the world? I hope you have already found your answer. Fats aren’t essentially the worst thing in the world. If anything, they are like every other product in this world. A product that is essentially good is used correctly and in the correct dosage. Ultimately lethal if used beyond a particular amount.

But is it only dangerous to you if used beyond the required amounts? No, banning fat from your diet also can put you at risk. If your body doesn’t get enough fat through your diet, it will also put your health in crisis. Want to know how?

Why fat is not the worst thing in the world

You won’t be able to lead a healthy life without having dietary fat in your body. It helps your body’s biological function in multiple manners.

Vitamins like A, D, E and K are fat soluble. That means your body can’t absorb these vitamins with the help of fat.
Fat is an essential element that provides structure to the outer membrane of our body cells.
The fatty acids, namely EPA and DHA in Omega 3, help you to maintain the health of your brain, central nervous system, and retinas.
Essential fatty acids play a major role in wound healing and blood clotting.
Your body needs dietary fats to produce certain hormones like testosterone and estrogen.
Fat is a major source of energy. Each gram of fat produces about 9 calories of energy that will help you in your daily activities.

All you need to know about dietary fat deficiency

Dietary fat deficiency can lead to various major problems in your body’s healthy performance.

Some of them are:

Vitamin deficiency

If your body doesn’t get an adequate amount of fat, it can cause a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins. This can cause various medical conditions like infertility, night blindness, swollen gums, depression, muscle pain etc.

Dermatitis

Fat is an essential part that gives structure to your skin cells and helps the skin to maintain its moisture barrier. Hence, a deficiency of fat can lead to dermatitis, causing skin inflammations in the form of dry, scaly rashes.

Slow wound healing

Your body needs fat to create many components essential for wound healing. The deficiency of vitamins A and D can also cause your wounds to heal more slowly.

Hair loss

The fatty molecules in your body, called prostaglandins, are an essential component that promotes hair growth. Hence, fat deficiency can change your hair texture and increase hair loss from the scalp and eyebrows.

Frequent sickness

Your body needs fat to produce several elements that stimulate the activity of your immune cells. In particular, your body needs omega-3 fatty acid’s alpha-linolenic acid and omega-6 fatty acid’s linoleic acid for this purpose.

How can you ensure you are not using the worst thing in the world?

Yes, to prevent these diseases caused due to fat deficiency and those diseases caused due to accumulation of fat, you need a middle ground. After all, a healthy diet should provide 20 to 30 calories from fat.

As oils are the common form of fat we Indians use in our cooking process, why don’t we look for good cooking oil?

So just like in any product, there are certain things you should keep in mind while purchasing cooking oil. These factors will determine whether your oil is doing you good or harm. Want to know what those factors are?

Things to keep in mind while purchasing a cooking oil

Cooking oil is the most common form of fat used in our food preparations. But, many of these oils that add flavour to your food can be harmful to you. In a world where a wide variety of oils that differ in smell, taste and colour are available to us, choosing a cooking oil is a difficult task. But if you keep these few tips in mind, the process will become much easier.

Check the type of fat present in your cooking oil

Cooking oils differ not only in fragrance and flavour but also in the ratio of fats present in them. Avoid cooking oil that has trans fat in it. This is the kind of oil that gives the oil the reputation of being the worst thing in the world. Instead, look for an oil that is rich in unsaturated fats, like polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.

Choosing a cooking oil with a high smoking point

The next important factor to look out for while purchasing cooking oil is its smoking point. The smoking point is the temperature at which an oil starts to burn and degrade. The oil that gets heated beyond its smoking point will release free radicals. When combined with oxygen, free radicals form harmful compounds and toxic smoke. These, even when inhaled, can injure your cells and DNA. Hence, it would be best if you always looked for an oil that has a high smoking point, especially for frying purposes.

So, now are you wondering what kind of product you should introduce to your life which will help you? Welcome to Nutriplus VCO.

Nutriplus VCO

If you are looking for healthy cooking oil that will keep you and your family safe, then Nutriplus VCO is the product for you. This cold-pressed, pure, and natural oil is highly beneficial for you. Compared with other refined coconut oils available in the market, this unrefined coconut oil is the storehouse of MCFAs or medium-fatty chain acids.

Medium-fatty chain acid

MCFAs are one of the healthiest forms of fat. It is so healthy that it can be found in the purest kind of milk, breast milk. Unlike other forms of fats, MCFAs are entirely used for producing energy. These fats can be directly absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream and cross the mitochondrial membrane, making them extremely healthy. The ability to be absorbed easily prevents MSFAs from accumulating within the body. As a result, unlike other types of fat, MCFAs aren’t stored within the body. So they also prevent any sort of weight gain.

Additionally, Nutriplus VCO, because of its unrefined and natural state, contains a lot of anti-oxidant, anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties. When combined with the natural aroma and taste the oil adds to your dishes, this makes VCO the perfect cooking oil for a healthy you. As a member of a society that consumes fat mainly through oils, this is the ultimate solution for you. Now, you can use oil in your food without any concerns.

Finally, from now onwards, you cannot consider fat as the worst thing in the world. You can rest easy and stop depriving yourself of essential nutrients. Just lay back and add Nutriplus VCO to your shopping list. It’s high time that you start shopping for a healthy you.