Many believe that all fats are bad for you, even the good ones like those in fish, avocados, and nuts and that they cause you to gain weight. This has made many people avoid fats in their diet which could cause more harm than good. The truth is fat is an essential part of a balanced diet and your body relies on healthy fats to function. There are essential nutrients that the body gets from foods rich in healthy fats that help keep you healthy.
Here are some of the healthy fats you should be taking – Avocados, cheese, dark chocolate, whole eggs, nuts like almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, cashews, Brazil nuts and pecans, chia seeds, extra Virgin Olive Oil, flaxseeds, seed butter, olives, tofu, yoghurt, and fatty fish.
Here are some benefits of eating healthy fats.
- Lowers The Risk Of Heart Disease
Replacing trans fats like deep-fried foods with healthy fats like nuts could reduce your risk of suffering from heart diseases. This is because, unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats don’t clog the arteries. In fact, studies show that monounsaturated fats help to reduce bad cholesterol in the body especially in diabetics. Heart-Friendly Foods To Add To Your Diet
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- Reduces Inflammation
Inflammation occurs when your immune system defends your body from invaders. However, when this defence system is hyperactive, it can lead to chronic inflammation which is linked to diseases such as arthritis and asthma. Eating healthy fats could reduce the expression of inflammatory genes in fat tissue thus reducing the effects of inflammation in the body.
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- Strengthens Hair Follicles
Healthy fats play a crucial role in hair growth. Bad fats increase the production of a hormone called DHT which, if found in high quantities can attack hair follicles and lead to hair loss. On the other hand, good fats contain fatty acids which are essential in balancing hormone levels. An increase in good cholesterol also improves blood circulation which promotes healthy hair growth. 7 Ways To Avoid Losing Your Hairline
- Boosts Brain Health
Brain tissue is made up of 60% fat. Therefore, it depends on healthy fats in order to function properly. Fats found in foods like fish and avocado have been known to promote brain health. Additionally, the brain relies on such foods to help absorb essential vitamins like Vitamin A, Vitamin D, and K which are not water-soluble. These vitamins play a key role in keeping the brain in good condition. Habits Ta Are Harmful To Your Brain
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- Protects Organs
This might be one of the key benefits of healthy fats in our bodies. Our organs are quite delicate and even minor injuries can cause internal bleeding which can be deadly. Healthy fats form a protective layer around the organs in the body in order to them safe from injury. They also promote cell growth in the event that your organs become damaged.
- Improves Physique
If you’re trying to lose belly fat and have a better physique, add healthy fats to your diet. The body requires a certain amount of fat to stay lean. Omega-3 turns on the gene that accelerates fat burning while turning off the gene that stores fat. Additionally, healthy fats help improve insulin sensitivity thus boosting the body’s metabolic rate.
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- Boosts Lung Health
Lung problems are more common than ever today due to air pollution and viral diseases like COVID-19. Therefore, it’s important to keep this vital organ healthy to avoid getting lung diseases. You can do so by eating fatty foods like whole milk and coconuts. The lungs are coated with a substance made of saturated fat which helps keep your lungs in good condition and resistant to infection. 12 Natural Remedies For Chest Congestion And Asthma
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