• Monounsaturated Fats – Also known as MUFAs. Monounsaturated Fats lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) while also increasing HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol). MUFAs help reduce your risk of heart disease, and help with insulin levels and controlling blood sugar. Some examples of foods containing higher amounts of MUFAs include olive oils, nuts, avocados, dark chocolates, and nuts.
• Polyunsaturated Fats – The fats also help lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Items such as salmon, corn, soy, safflower, fish oil, and sunflower oils are high in polyunsaturated fats. This is the group where Omega 3 fatty acids fall under.
• Saturated Fats – These fats raise total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. For the most part, saturated fats are found in animal products like meat, dairy, and eggs. Saturated fats are also found in some plant foods such as coconut oils, palm oils, and palm kernel oils.
• Trans Fats – There has been lots of talk of these fats lately. These are found in most packaged foods, as well as fried foods like French fries and fried chicken. They are also found in popcorn and in some cooking additives such as shortening and hard stick margarine.
