When it comes to food choices of an average teenager, there are foods that he/she should steer away from and foods he/she should choose to eat for a healthy lifestyle.
Fats. What do you think of this word? To you, does it have a positive or negative meaning to it? Many people think that fats are bad for you, which is true, however there are also "good" fats, that is needed in a human's diet. In order for an average teenager to life a healthy lifestyle, he/she has to be knowledgable of the "good" and the "bad" fats in food.
In foods, there are four major different types of fats. Monounsaturated fats, polyunsaturated fats, saturated fats and trans fat. Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are the "good" fats, and saturated fats and trans fats are the "bad" fats.
Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are good for you because they help with your cholesterol levels, your heart, and all in all health. Monounsaturated fats, such as nuts, avocados, peanut butter, lower the amount of LDL Cholesterol (which clogs up your artery walls) by increasing the amount of HDL Cholesterol (which allows the cholesterol to pass through the artery walls without collecting up on the artery walls).
Polyunsaturated fats, such as tofu, soymilk, fatty fish (ex salmon, tuna), and avocados, just overall, benefits your health. According to recent studies, people who consume more polyunsaturated fats (or Omega-3, fatty acids) have less health problems then others who don't consume as much polyunsaturated fats. Studies also have evidence that polyunsaturated fats help prevent depression, arthritis, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases.
Saturated fats and trans fats are bad for you because they don't have any benefit to your health whatsoever, they only taste "good," Saturated fats, such as butter, and fatty red meats, can clog up your heart causing major health issues.
Trans fats, such as doughnuts, packaged foods, cakes, cookies, are fats that are made by humans, not natural. Trans fats are worse than saturated fats, and are bad for your blood vessels, and nervous system.
These choices may not affect you as much as a teen, but it becomes a key factor when we grow up and systems in your body start to fail quicker than one who eats healthy.
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By: Alyssa Azuma
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