Which Fats Are Actually Good For You?

There is a stigma around the word ‘fat’. Most diets and weight loss routines promote cutting out as much fat from your food as possible, but the fact is that we do need some fat to stay healthy. That’s why it’s so important for our wellbeing to understand as much as possible about which fats are good and which fats are bad.

Fats play a crucial role in the health of your heart. But there are many different types of fat and not all of them are considered the same. Excess consumption of saturated fat, for example, is strongly linked to heart disease. This fat is generally found in processed foods, dairy products, meat and anything that has been fried. Experts almost universally suggest replacing as much saturated fat as possible with unsaturated fats.

But now it seems that the concept might not be that simple. New research published in the BMJ has revealed that omega-6 fatty acid, a type of unsaturated fat, is actually linked to an increased risk of heart disease. All unsaturated fats had previously been considered healthy for your heart.

Unsaturated fats, when taken in moderation, were widely considered to be heart-healthy. But now we may have to look more closely at the different forms of unsaturated fat to see which ones really are.

Omega-6 fatty acid is a type of polyunsaturated fat, and it’s found in vegetable oils. This means that it is used in lots of low-fat spreads that are often championed as a good replacement for full-fat butter in your diet. This new research suggests that scientists may need to have a new debate over what should not be recommended for a healthy heart.

If you are trying to lose weight by using unsaturated fats as a replacement for saturated fats or if you’re worried that excess consumption could put you at risk of heart disease, it’s worth talking to your doctor.