The first thing that people think about when they are attempting to lose weight is to automatically cut back on the fat in their diet. Most commonly, they are advised to stay away from fast food establishments along with cutting back on drinking colas and to avoid frying their foods. Although all of these things are the sources of unhealthy storehouses of fat, the key to losing weight is not to completely do away with fat in your diet.

Studies have been conducted and have shown that the important thing is not actually the fat content in your diet that matters, but rather the type of fat that counts. There is no question that bad fats increase your cholesterol level and they raise the risk of getting some diseases, but there is also something that is known as healthy fat that is actually good for your body. These types of fats will work to protect your heart and improve your overall health. One such fat is that of omega-3 and this one is necessary for both your physical and emotional health.

There are basically two different types of fats which are bad fats and healthy ones. Bad fats are made up of trans-fats and saturated ones while on the other side of the coin, healthy fats include monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. You may be asking yourself, "Why do I need healthy fats?"

One of the most important reasons why we need healthy fat is that our brain needs it to function properly. Did you know that 60% of your brain is actually fat? We need these fats to create what is called neurotransmitters. Their definition is a chemical that is released from a nerve cell which thereby transmits an impulse from a nerve cell to another nerve, muscle, organ, or other tissue. This is the reason why doctors recommend fish oil and flax oil for kids who suffer from attention-deficit-disorder. There is also a good possibility that healthy people could also benefit from taking these because they help to improve memory and mood along with making learning faster.

Another good reason that we need healthy fats is that they help our bodies to burn body fat while at the same time, they stop us from feeling hungry too soon after a meal. This is a good thing because it also prevents us from overeating which could lead to obesity. When your body burns fat, it gives you a more consistent amount of energy compared to that of burning carbohydrates.

Perhaps the best thing about good fats is that they are good for your heart as they help to reduce triglycerides and they also help to keep your blood pressure under control. Also, they work to reduce blood clotting and the amount of plaque in your arteries. There is more good news because if you are one of those individuals who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, these fats also help to reduce inflammation in the body.

There are also several types of vitamins that require fat so they can be absorbed properly into your body. Some of these vitamins include vitamins A,E,D, and K and as stated, without fat, they will not be able to be absorbed into your body and you will not reap their benefits.

Hopefully by now, you have learned that healthy fats can bring many health benefits to your body, so how can you get them? The best way to get them is through healthy oils such as olive oil. By far, extra virgin olive oil is the leader, but there are other good oils as well such as sunflower, canola, almond, avocado, and nut butters excluding peanut butter. There are also many other good sources especially nuts like walnuts, pecans, pine nuts, hazel nuts and pistachios to name a few. Peanuts are not included. You can also find polyunsaturated fats in soybean and corn oil along with soymilk and tofu.

This can throw a whole new outlook on dieting because it can make it a much more tasteful venture compared to the traditional diet where people are used to saying no to anything that sounds and tastes delicious. If you indulge in a diet that is rich in oils and nuts, you can enjoy great tasty treats without having to worry about absorbing all of the unhealthy fats into your body. You can also be reassured that the bad fats in your body are being chased off by the good ones.

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