There are so many types of fats in your diet. Monounsaturated fats, or the “good” fats, are the ones that you want to incorporate into your diet. Here are the top 3 health benefits of monounsaturated fats.
1. Weight Loss
If you are trying to lose weight, you need to incorporate monounsaturated fats, or MUFAs, into your diet. You may think you need to stay away from fats, but a study shows that MUFAs can help you lose weight. Just make sure that your intake isn’t more than you burn.
In addition, another study found that when their overweight participants ate either a high-MUFA diet or a high-carb diet, their weight loss results are similar. And in a similar study, researchers concluded that high-carb diets are a little less effective for weight loss than a high-MUFA diet.
2. Reduced Risk of Heart Disease
Monounsaturated fats are also great for reducing the risk of heart disease. The key is replacing saturated fats with MUFAs. Studies show that increasing your MUFA intake can reduce triglycerides and blood cholesterol. Both are risk factors for strokes and heart attacks.
And, in comparison to a high-carb diet, another study found that eating a high-MUFA diet can also help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
But, these benefits are because MUFAs replaced calories. Not because extra caloric allowances were taken.
3. Reduced Risk of Cancer
Lastly, antioxidant-rich foods aren’t the only ones you should be eating to reduce cancer risks. Some studies support MUFAs lowering the risk of specific cancers, too.
It is possible that MUFAs may help reduce the risk of prostate cancer. One study shows that men who consumed MUFAs daily had a reduced risk of this type of cancer. However, the researchers also caution that it may have been a combined effect of MUFAs along with antioxidant-rich foods and fish that produced these results.
In addition, lower breast cancer risks were associated with MUFA consumption. However, scientists were unclear whether the lowered risk was from MUFAs alone or other components in the MUFA-containing foods.
Final Thoughts
There are many health benefits of monounsaturated fats. So, if you haven’t already you should start replacing some of those saturated fats and carbs with these healthy fats. Your body will thank you for it in the long run.
