Good fat vs. Bad fat

Good fat vs. Bad fat

Fat is required to survive, but what kind of fat is good for us?

Here is a list of good sources of fat and why they are so good for us.

Vegetable oil: Vegetable oil has lots of unsaturated fats. There are lots of different types of vegetable oil, like canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and others. One of the best sources of good fats is extra virgin olive oil. It’s more expensive, but much healthier than even most of the vegetable oils.

Fish Fat: Eating the fat found in fish like salmon, trout, and other fatty fish can be a great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which our body needs. Most of the vegetable oils are higher in Omega-6 fatty acids and lower in Omega-3 fatty acids.

Nuts and nut oils: Nuts are very high in fat and can be a great source of lasting energy. Walnuts and walnut oil are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Almonds, macadamia nuts, and cashews are also great sources of the good fats.

Coconut craze: Coconut oil has been catching on lately in the US, and for good reason. Coconuts have a source of saturated fat that is healthy. This oil can help fight depression, supports immunity, and boosts metabolism. A couple teaspoons a day goes a long way.

Here is a list of a few bad fats and why to stay away from them.

Red meat: Red meat has a high fat content. This fat is high in saturated fat and can raise the risk of prostate and colon cancer.

Artificial Trans Fats: These can increase your bad cholesterol levels, and decrease the good ones, leading to heart disease and possibly stroke. Foods that contain these are things like margarine, baked goods like pie crust, frozen pizzas, and other processed foods (just read the label and look for trans fats and hydrogenated oils – stay away from these).

Dr. Kauffman is a licensed chiropractor in Loveland Ohio and serves patients in the greater Cincinnati area. To find out more about the go-to Loveland Chiropractor see