Safe weight loss and fat is an important combination,
can be mentioned in the same sentence and yes, fat is healthy
for you. Surprisingly, fats are an essential part of a safe
weight loss program and contribute to health. Contrary to
some beliefs, fat does not immediately transform itself to
an oversized belly or hips. Of course, overeating fat does
cause weight gain but combining proper fats and eating the “right” fats
will contribute to a healthy diet and can assist you in your
quest for safe weight loss. Yes, weight loss!
The Benefits of Essential Fatty Acids
To achieve safe weight loss, it is important to understand
dietary fats and how they work in your body. There are
benefits to eating dietary fats, especially those known
as essential fatty acids. Dietary fats are those fats that
you eat or ingest. Essential fatty acids or EFA’s
are fats not found in the body. That is, essential fatty
acids cannot be manufactured by the body. Therefore, they
must be ingested. Essential fatty acids are also needed
by the body for crucial weight loss and metabolism processes.
The following list offers fat facts and ways in which fat
contributes to safe weight loss and good physical health:
- fat is needed in order for the body to manufacture hormones,
i.e., thyroid gland, regulate menopause, provide energy
for sex, and contribute to muscle mass;
- insulin production depends on a proper balance of fats;
- fat is required in order for the body to produce red
blood cells;
- fat lubricates bodily joints;
- essential fatty acids regulate the transport of oxygen;
- essential fatty acids assist in the formation of cells,
especially those in the nervous system;
- essential fatty acids or EFA’s increase the metabolic
rate;
- essential fatty acids improve skin and hair;
- essential fatty acids reduce high blood pressure;
- essential fatty acids reduce cholesterol and triglyceride
levels;
- some essential fatty acids become prostaglandins which
are crucial factors in insulin production and indirectly
assist the body in burning fat.
- Prostaglandins, derived from essential fatty acids,
can act as an anti-depressant;
- Prostaglandins, derived from essential fatty acids,
prevent allergies;
- Prostaglandins, derived from essential fatty acids,
aid the immune system;
- Prostaglandins, derived from essential fatty acids,
reduce joint inflammation;
- Prostaglandins, derived from essential fatty acids,
assist in transporting cholesterol through the body.
As is becoming evident, essential fatty acids or EFA’s
assist the body in safe weight loss and actually help to
reduce fat stores.
And in case you’re wondering, body fat is fat that
your body stores in its adipose tissue.
There are Two Types of Essential Fatty Acids
The two types of essential fatty acids: Omega-3 and Omega-6.
Omega-3’s offer tremendous safe weight loss
and health benefits by speeding up the body’s fat burning
processes. Omega-3’s can be found in deep water fish
as well as flaxseed and walnut oil.
Omega-6’s are found in raw nuts, legumes and
seeds and in some oils. Omega-6, together with Omega-3’s,
are crucial to brain function as well as normal growth, development,
safe weight loss and good health.
What’s the Deal About Cholesterol?
Too much cholesterol is not healthy. However, too little
cholesterol is not healthy, either. Dietary cholesterol
is not the same as blood cholesterol. What’s interesting
about high blood cholesterol levels is that you’ve
already been given the recipe to avoid it. The dietary
foods that cause high blood cholesterol levels are the
same foods that raise triglyceride levels. Remember what
happens when you ingest high triglyceride foods? Your body
overproduces insulin which causes your body to store fat.
Here’s a good weight
loss tip: if you have high blood cholesterol levels,
you would most likely be advised to guard your intake of
starches and other high glycemic foods, alcohol and dietary
fat. Remember that safe weight loss and carbohydrates go
hand in hand. You would be advised to exercise (more),
as well.
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