the fats son essential macronutrients i they play a vital role in people’s diet. The importance of fat consumption goes beyond its caloric intake, as they are part of cell membranes, help regulate body temperature, support the transport of fat-soluble vitamins, among other functions.
The debate around its consumption is related to diseases such as obesity and diabetes. In the face of this, NotiPress consulted at Paola shue, Nutritionist by profession and manager of corporate affairs and communication for Latin America Upfield Latin America, On the consumption of fats, in particular those of vegetable origin.
When we talk about lipids, we need to identify those saturated and unsaturated fats. Likewise, the group of unsaturated are divided into monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. the fat intake has been demonized in recent times due to the strong relationship between the intake of saturated fat and the development of cardiovascular disease.
In this regard, Shue commented «Not all fats have the same profile, what scientific evidence shows us today is that if we consume a higher proportion of ‘healthy’ fats such as monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats every day, we will be contributing to the care of our body. “. There is no scientific information on health damage from consuming healthy fats. If they existed, regulatory bodies worldwide would not allow their use and therefore companies around the world would stop incorporating them into food, the specialist explained.
saturated fats
Among the main sources of foods containing saturated fats are coconut oil (84%), cocoa butter (62%), pork fat (55%) and the palm oil (50%), among others. In relation to palm oil, it is often replaced by other fat sources with a higher proportion of saturated fat, such as coconut oil. This responds to the decision of food producers due to the numerous criticisms, however, they do not always consider in their analysis from the point of view of science.
Shue says, the excess saturated fat, Like excess sodium or anything, it can be harmful to health. «Any food or nutrition consumed in excess can cause an imbalance in the human body»And it exemplifies that drinking too much water is also negative for the body. Part of the criticism of vegetable oils is related to their refining process.
A study published on August 26, 2019 of the Polytechnic University of Madrid points out, “the absence of any statement from the scientific community on the effects of palm oil on consumer health has meant that the message reaches the general public mainly through the media and is often biased and incomplete«.
Because of the importance of the role of fats a la people’s diet, The specialist of Upfield suggests the orientationas a tool to decide on a proper and balanced nutrition, According to the characteristics of each person. It is not just a matter of restricting a certain group of foods, but of finding a beneficial balance that contributes to the well-being of people.