It is a common belief that fats are not good for health; however, this
notion is far from reality, as not all fats are bad, in fact some fats
are actually recommended and are essential for a healthy life. Most of
us, without realizing the importance of fats in our daily diet try to
avoid any fat intake during the course of the day. This can be
attributed to the lack of awareness regarding the health benefits of
fats and the many misconceptions that are associated with its intake.
Have you experienced days when you just can’t seem to muster the energy
you need to get through your day? Do you find your child complaining of
not having enough energy to complete a task? Have you ever stopped to
wonder why? Well, one reason can be unhealthy diet. After all, we are
what we eat right? This means that amongst other things the food we eat
is also responsible for how good we look and feel. Therefore, it is
imperative that we all know what foods are good for us and what are bad.
Fat makes our food palatable and tasty and is an
important part of our diet, not only because it delivers the energy our
body needs of r optimal functioning, but also because it serves as a
carrier for fat soluble micronutrients (e.g. vitamins). Fats also play
a vital role in maintaining healthy skin and hair, insulating body
organs against shock, maintaining body temperature, and promoting
healthy cell function.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends
that 30 percent of calories should come from fats. Furthermore,
two-third of these fats should be good fats, whereas the remaining one
third can some from saturated fats. Unsaturated fats are referred to as
‘good fats’ and can be found in vegetable oils like repressed oil,
sunflower seed oil, walnut oil, almond oil, soybean oil and olive oil
and products made thereof like soft margarines and salad dressings.
Certain food items containing good fats are usually high in Omega 3 and
Omega 6 Essential fatty acids (EFAs). These fats are known as essential
fats because they cannot be produced by our body and need to be derived
from our diet.
