Source of Polyunsaturated Fats
Fats have the reputation of being non-essential and harmful to the body. But the truth is the body needs fats to function well. According to Vasanti Malik, a researcher at the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School, dietary fats help give the body energy, protect the organs, support cell growth, keep blood pressure and cholesterol under control, and help the body absorb essential nutrients. It also serves as the reserved fuel of the body—the body stores fats to prepare itself when food is scarce.
There are two kinds of fats, saturated and unsaturated. Saturated or bad fats are primarily found in meat like beef and pork. However, it’s also evident in high-fat dairy products like cheese, butter, cream, and margarine. Processed goods also contain saturated fats. These are pizza, hamburgers, cookies, and pastries.
On the other hand, unsaturated or healthy fats have two kinds: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Cod liver oil is rich in polyunsaturated fats. Polyunsaturated fats are omega-3 fatty acids. Compared to saturated fats, these healthy fats help raise HDL (good) cholesterol. The HDL collects excess LDL and delivers it to the liver, where it flushes away the toxins harmful to the body.
