Glossary of Vegetarianism and Vegetarian Cuisine |
(noun) Fat is a chemical compound found in varying amounts in different types of food. Some fat is essential in any diet, as certain key vitamins and minerals are fat soluble, meaning that the body can only absorb them in conjunction with fat.
Types of fat
Each type of fat has a different effect on levels of HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol); here is a very brief summary:
- Monounsaturated fat – raises HDL and lowers LDL (very healthy)
- Polyunsaturated fat – raises HDL and LDL (healthy)
- Saturated fat – raises HDL and LDL (unhealthy)
- Trans fat or Trans-isomer fat – lowers HDL and raises LDL (very unhealthy)
Also see
Learn more
Fat and Oil: the good, the bad, and the unhealthy