Some Fats Are Friends! Healthy Fats and Why We Love Them

“High Fat, Low-Carb” That’s the mantra for any ketogenic dieter. Why? Because when you stop burning carbs you enter ‘ketosis’: a state in which your body is incredibly efficient at burning fat for energy. Ketogenic diets also encourage healthy blood sugar and insulin levels. That’s how Jose, ChipMonk Baking's founder, got his diabetes under control without the use of prescription drugs. That’s also why all of ChipMonk’s desserts are low in net-carbs and packed with healthy fats.

But what do we mean by healthy fats? For years we’ve associated fatty diets with weight gain and unhealthy cholesterol, but maybe we haven’t given fats a fair chance. Fat is, in fact, a nutrient, just like protein and carbohydrates. Your body need fat in order to absorb vitamins and protect your heart and brain. While it’s true that some ‘bad’ fats, like artificial trans fats and saturated fats, are responsible for weight gain and clogged arteries, ‘good’ fats, like unsaturated fats and omega-3s, actually do the opposite. These healthy fats are essential for heart health, and for maintaining healthy weight, insulin levels, and cognitive function.

ChipMonk Baking is all about eating well to feel good, and by understanding the difference between healthy and unhealthy fats we can all learn how to improve mood, boost energy levels, and even lose excessive weight. So here’s what to what you need to know: 

 

 

 

Trans Fats

Trans fats are especially dangerous because they not only raise LDL (bad) cholesterol, but lower HDL (good) cholesterol. Artificial trans fats are also associated with increased risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Common Foods High in Trans Fats:

 

  • Fried foods like french fries, fried chicken, breaded fish
  • Traditionally-baked desserts like cookies, doughnuts, muffins, and cakes
  • Packaged snack foods like chips, crackers, & microwave popcorn
  • Anything that contains hydrogenated, or partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
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    Saturated Fats

    Although not as harmful as trans fats, too many saturated fats can also negatively impact cholesterol and heart health. That said, many foods containing saturated fats are also excellent sources of essential vitamins and minerals, so there’s no need to cut saturated fats out entirely. Just keep things in moderation. Most health experts recommend limiting saturated fats to 10% of your daily calorie intake.

     

    Common Foods High in Saturated Fats:

     

  • Red Meat (pork, beef, lamb)
  • Chicken skin
  • Whole fat dairy products (milk, cream, cheese)
  • Butter
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     Unfortunately, the ‘bad’ fats have overshadowed the importance of good, healthy fats. So let’s shine some light on the kind of fats that fill us with energy, stabilize our moods, and keep our bodies running at their best:

     

     

    Monounsaturated & Polyunsaturated Fats

    These are the ‘good’ fats! Why? Because mono- and polyunsaturated fats help maintain healthy cholesterol, cardiac function, and overall wellbeing. Adding more of these ‘healthy’ fats can help you reduce risk of heart disease, lower blood pressure, and prevent atherosclerosis (hardening & narrowing of the arteries). They also reduce excessive hunger and promote healthy weight management.

    Common Foods Full of Healthy Fats:

     

  • Avocados
  • Nuts (almonds, peanuts, macadamia, hazelnuts, cashews…)
  • Peanut Butter!
  • Sunflower Seeds
  • FlaxSeeds
  • Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, trout…)
  • SoyMilk
  • Tofu
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    Because all ChipMonk Desserts are baked with almond and nut flours, they are chock full of wholesome, good fats. Better yet, they have <1g sugar/serving and are entirely free of unhealthy trans fats. Just remember, not all fats are equal. While we should all avoid artificial trans fats and limit our intake of saturated fats, healthy fats are our friends. Just be sure to check the label, and show those healthy fats some love!

    If you’d like to learn more about healthy fats, keto & diabetic recipes, and our latest products and news, be sure to sign up for ChipMonk’s Weekly Newsletter. Thanks for reading!

    -The ChipMonks

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