2Inspire Health & Fitness Magazine #34 - July 2022

Page 11

Heart Health is Affected by the Type of Fat You Consume

In addition to helping you lose weight, focusing on fat will definitely affect your heart. A few decades ago, so-called health experts of the day kicked off a major low fat and no fat trend, with major food brands following suit. If you wanted to drop some pounds and trim your middle, you were told to only eat low-fat no fat or reduced fat products. With a little more information at our disposal these days thanks to the internet, our fear of fat has evolved to a greater understanding that fat is an essential nutrient 11

that our body needs to perform at its best. The types of fat that consume and in what quantities, play a part.

These fats alter your blood chemistry and can lead to high blood pressure and eventual hardening of the arteries.

Our endocrine system is nourished when we eat foods that contain fat. But everything should be in balance and it’s likely that if you consume the typical American diet then you are overindulging in the harmful types of fat.

If the arteries are not flexible it becomes more difficult for our body to pump blood to our extremities and deliver oxygen to our cells. We are at increased risk of heart attack and stroke if this happens.

Saturated fat that comes from animal products, and hydrolyzed vegetable fat otherwise known as trans fats, are the worst kinds of fats to consume in excess.

Studies have found that Mediterranean people who consume omega-3 fats such as those found in fatty fish like salmon, tuna, mackerel, and sardines, as


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.