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Understanding Fats and Fiber

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Understanding Fats and Fibers
Jessica Klitzke
SCI/241
May 21, 2014
Carolyn Farhy

Understanding Fats and Fibers
Most would assume that all fat is bad for them to consume and will only their waistlines. However, that is not true because there are good fats and bad fats. If one understands this concept, then the next step is to understand which food is good to consume and which type is bad.
Saturated and trans-fats are regarded as the bad fats for us. According to “American Heart Association” (2014), “The bad fats, saturated and trans-fats, tend to be more solid at room temperature (like a stick of butter), while monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats tend to be more liquid (like vegetable oil). In addition, bad fats are also bad for one’s cholesterol, as it will make your levels rise. On the other hand, the good fats will help lower the levels of cholesterol.
To define each type of fats is easier than it may sound. Saturated fats are made up of carbon atoms that have been saturated with hydrogen atoms. In today’s society everyone seems to be more concerned with trans-fats. Trans-fats starts off as a liquid, but then hydrogen is added to turn it into a solid. When it comes to unsaturated fats, I am confused and researched elsewhere for clarification. Therefore, if I am understanding the information correctly, then the fatty acids in saturated fats are the unsaturated. There are two carbons that are connected by a double bond in saturated fats, and the fatty acid is unsaturated (“How Stuff Works,” 2014). Hydrogenated fats are also listed with trans-fats because they are made in the same industrial process.
When concerning trans-fatty acids, when consumed it can be harmful to our health. Trans-fatty acids are responsible for raising our bad cholesterol levels and lowering our good cholesterol levels. Therefore, we are putting ourselves at risk for heart

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