These diets are popular because people believe that if you eat less fat
you will gain less weight. Makes sense doesn’t it? After all, fat is very
calorie dense.
Before beginning a diet like this remember the following::
? Not all fats are created equal
? Not all fats are bad; there are good fats and bad fats
“Bad” fats fall into one of two groups: saturated fat or trans- fat.
Research seems to indicate that a link exists between saturated fats
and heart disease. Saturated fats and trans fats are the types of fat
that raise your cholesterol levels. These fats exists in diets that are
high in animal fats. This is why the Atkins and low carb diets aren’t
usually the best type of diets.
Although Atkins had found no increase in cholesterol levels using his
diet, the medical community has not determined the long-term effects
of this weight loss system. Diets high in saturated (animal) fats have
been linked to certain cancers.
If your cholesterol is high, fats will build-up on walls restricting blood
flow to your heart and your body. This results in your heart having to
work much harder to push the blood through your body.
Your heart, because it has to work so much harder, may become
larger which cold lead to angina which is also known as enlargement of
the heart. High blood pressure can result in kidney damage and
damage to smaller capillaries in your eyes. Damaging the capillaries in
your eyes can lead to the loss of eyesight and possible blindness if the
blood pressure is not controlled.
One of the worst, most damaging fats is trans fats.. Fats or oils that
have partial hydrogenation are more than likely to be trans fatty.
Partially hydrogenated oils lower the levels of healthy cholesterol (HDL
