How to Distinguish Between Good Fats and Bad Fats
How to Tell Good Fats from Bad Fats In the foods you eat, there are both good and bad fats—but how exactly can you tell them apart? The Benefits of Fat Many view fat as the enemy, but in reality, it provides essential benefits. Without fat, we couldn’t survive. It transports fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, and E) throughout the body for absorption, maintains skin health, and is crucial for infant vision and brain development. Despite these advantages, fat is often blamed for obesity—and understandably so. Each gram of fat (whether good or bad) contains 9 calories, more than double that of carbohydrates or protein. The Downsides of Fat Fat is a major contributor to heart disease and stroke. Diets high in saturated and trans fats (both "bad" fats) raise cholesterol levels, clog arteries, and impair blood flow to the heart and brain. The American Heart Association recommends that only 20–35% of daily calories come from fat—exceeding this harms health. How Much Fat Should You...