Your Complete Guide to Being Well and Staying Healthy
Healthy Living
Weight Management
Are you at a weight that lets you feel and look your best? If not, it’s time to start managing your weight. The good news is that to lose weight, you don’t have to diet. But you may need to learn new skills. Find out how to lose weight safely and keep it off for good.
Health Centers
Pregnancy & Newborns
Pregnancy is an exciting time for parents-to-be. You want to know as much as you can about your developing baby and how your actions will affect his health. Use this information to help you make informed decisions from conception through delivery.
Your Family
Women's Health
Enjoy good health at every age: know your body and how it works, eat well and stay active, and follow a plan for disease prevention.
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Health Tip of the Day
A Guide to Fats
Fats are a group of chemical compounds that contain fatty acids. Energy is stored in your body mostly in the form of fat. There are three main types of fatty acids: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Reducing all types of fat in your diet is best.
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Saturated fats are found mostly in foods of animal origin: meat, poultry skin, butter, cheese and partially hydrogenated oils. Saturated fats increase the LDL (bad) cholesterol level in your blood.
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Polyunsaturated fats are found in corn, cottonseed, safflower, soybean and sunflower oils. They can reduce LDL cholesterol levels but in excess they may also reduce HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
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Monounsaturated fats are the primary fats in olive, peanut, sesame and canola oils. They raise HDL cholesterol as they lower LDL cholesterol, but they should be consumed in moderation.
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Trans-fats are found in hydrogenated vegetable oils such as margarines and shortenings, and in many commercially made desserts. Trans-fats raise LDL and lower HDL cholesterol.