The Fat Coin - Tails

The Fat Coin - Tails

The Bad

Saturated Fat:

• A "bad" fat
• Increases overall cholesterol levels, specifically LDL or "bad" cholesterol
• Found in animal-based foods such as meat, poultry and eggs, and also in butter, cream and other dairy products
• Also found in plant-based products such as coconut, so-called "tropical oils" like coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter

The Ugly

Trans Fat:

• Another "bad" fat
• Increases levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol and lowers levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol
• Found in hydrogenated fat products such as margarines and vegetable shortenings
• Used in packaged snack foods such as cookies, crackers and chips, and in fried foods from fast-food and other restaurants

The following table shows, in grams, how much saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and trans fats are contained in 1 tablespoon of various commonly used oils and fats.

See the other side of the fat coin: Heads