Benefits of Vegetable Fat for Body Health

Vegetable fats are good fats derived from plants. There are various benefits of vegetable fats to maintain a healthy body, including lowering cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease. Vegetable fat is different from saturated fat and trans fat which can actually contribute to increasing the amount of bad cholesterol (low density lipoprotein / LDL) in the blood and triggers the emergence of various diseases in the body.

Various Benefits of Vegetable Fat for Body Health

Vegetable fats in the form of food and oil become a source of monounsaturated fats and doubles. Monounsaturated fats are usually found in vegetable oils, olive oil, peanut oil, avocados and nuts. Whereas, polyunsaturated fats contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that you can find in fish, soybeans, tofu, plant oils, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Some of the benefits of both types of vegetable fat, including:

Reduces bad cholesterol

Vegetable fat is rich in phytosterols. A study explains that even in small amounts, phytosterols can inhibit the absorption of bad cholesterol. Vegetable fat is also considered able to increase good cholesterol (high density lipoprotein / HDL).

Reducing the risk of heart disease

Various studies have revealed that eating lots of foods with saturated fat content and trans fat can increase the risk of heart disease. Conversely, eating foods with unsaturated fat content, such as vegetable fats, can reduce the risk of heart disease.

Prevents the risk of prostate cancer

Based on a study, prostate cancer sufferers who have replaced animal-fat diets with vegetable fat foods have a lower risk of dying from prostate cancer. That's because vegetable fat can increase antioxidant levels in the blood, as well as reduce insulin and inflammation, which can delay the development of prostate cancer.

Choosing the Right Processed Vegetable Fat Products

Although it is healthier than animal fat, vegetable fat also has a negative impact on health, especially vegetable fats that undergo a refining process, such as vegetable oils. That is because the process of refining vegetable oils can eliminate the phytosterol content which is actually an important element. Things to consider before choosing a vegetable oil product is to make sure the product does not contain saturated fat (saturated fat). The contents of the product can be read on the packaging label. Vegetable fats have many benefits, but avoid consuming this excess fat. You also need to balance it with other nutritional intake, including animal fat, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins and minerals. If necessary, consult your doctor to get recommendations for consumption of vegetable fats and eating patterns that are right for you.