Healthy Living: The Non-Saturated Fats, Saturated Fats, and Heart Disease Connection
Get this: according to the National Institute of Health, reducing or modifying dietary fat intake reduces cardiovascular deaths by 9%. Fats, cholesterol, and their impact on your heart is an endless debate, and without the help of professionals such as Ian Weisberg, it would be impossible to get the correct facts. You’ve hit the jackpot of heart health information if you’re reading this article. Before the last full stop, you’ll understand how cholesterol and saturated fats contribute to heart disease. Let’s start!
Difference Between Saturated and Non-Saturated Fats
Saturated fats are the “unhealthy” kinds of fats. They increase cholesterol levels, including the more unhealthy culprit, LDL cholesterol. Typically, an increase in cholesterol makes you vulnerable to heart arteries and body blockages. For this reason, heart specialists recommend avoiding saturated fats to protect your heart from diseases. According to Medline Plus, these fats harden at room temperature and include butter, coconut oil, and the fat in meats.
On the other side, unsaturated fats are “healthy” fats. They lower your cholesterol levels, reducing susceptibility to heart disease. For this reason, Dr. Ian Weisberg and other cardiologists advise replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats in your diet. Typically, there are two kinds of unsaturated fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. You can find healthy fats in foods such as avocados, extra virgin oil, oily fish, and nuts.
Saturated Fats and Heart Disease
You risk inflammation and endothelial dysfunction if you frequently consume plenty of saturated fats. Ignore the medical jargon. In layman’s language, saturated fats increase your body’s inflammation and cause dysfunction of your endothelium (the inner lining of your blood vessels). Typically, the condition is a major contributor to the development of atherosclerosis and many other cardiovascular conditions.
Saturated fats lead to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in your arteries. These plaques are caused by the build up of cholesterol, calcium, and other substances. So, after their accumulation, they’ll narrow your arteries and significantly reduce blood flowing into your heart. What’s worse, when a plaque ruptures, it forms a blood clot and ultimately leads to a heart attack or a stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s sad that every 40 seconds, someone suffers from a stroke in the US.
In Summary
Believe it when doctors advise you to limit your intake of saturated fats. Typically, these fats increase your body’s cholesterol level, leading to plaque build-up in your arteries and restricting blood flow to your heart. It makes you vulnerable to a heart attack or a stroke that may take your life. Well, heart health information doesn’t stop there; consider visiting Dr. Ian Weisberg, a professional cardiologist, to learn how to protect your heart.
