Your Are What You Eat

obesity-femaleNot all fats are created equal. Some fats are more harmful than others, while a few special types of fat are beneficial in the fight against heart disease.

It’s important to recognize the differences between saturated and unsaturated fats, so Lets look at the distinctions.

In layman’s terms, saturated fats are solid at room temperature, whereas unsaturated fats are liquid. Animal fats are generally saturated, whereas vegetable fats are generally unsaturated. That’s why animal fats come in jars while vegetable oils like safflower and olive oils come in bottles.

However, we need a quick chemistry lesson to really understand the important exceptions. In terms of their chemical structure, fats are actually rather simple molecules. All fats are composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms joined together in structures known technically as fatty acids. The carbon atoms are linked into a chain at the core of every fatty acid. Each carbon atom is surrounded by hydrogens.

In saturated fats, each carbon is surrounded by the maximum number of hydrogens; all of the slots available for hydrogen are occupied. But in unsaturated fats, some of the hydrogen slots are vacant.

In monounsaturated fats, the missing hydrogens are replaced by one double bond between neighboring carbons, whereas in polyunsaturates two or more double bonds are present.

Chemistry lesson over.

However, at the risk of further confusion, and to complete this lesson, you also need to understand that some vegetable oils are saturated – all their carbon atoms are surrounded by a full complement of hydrogens. Coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, and cocoa butter belong in this category. Because they are plentiful, inexpensive, and stable, tropical oils have found their way into many “cholesterol-free” foods and baked goods.

Because it’s tasty, cocoa butter has become a mainstay of the chocolate-lover’s dessert menu. But because they are saturated, these fats behave more like animal fats rather than vegetable oils; of the four saturated vegetable fats, cocoa butter appears to be the least harmful.

In contrast, an important group of fats from animal sources are unsaturated. These fatty acids don’t come from land animals, but from marine animals; because they are unsaturated, fish oils behave more like vegetable oils than animal fats.

Medical researchers have determined that saturated and unsaturated fats have very different effects on human health. New studies, in fact, are showing that important distinctions exist even among the unsaturated fats; although we still have much to learn about the relative merits and drawbacks of the unsaturates, we’ve already learned enough to warrant some changes in the traditional guidelines for low-fat diets.

Exercise Plays an Important Role in Maintaining Health

Exercise Plays an Important Role in Maintaining HealthExercise increases circulation and helps remove the toxins and impurities that have accumulated in the physiology

These deposits are a major factor in the breakdown of the resistance of the body. Exercise is a key procedure for helping the body’s natural internal cleansing processes.

Exercise Instructions for all body types

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There are many things you can do to prevent heart disease and / or just stay healthy:


img_warwick_jonessmlr… the combination of Vedic Meditation, for twenty minutes twice a day, with a good diet – especially a low fat, low salt diet – and physical exercise, should see a dramatic change in your health.

Vedic Meditation is one of the most powerful techniques available for reducing stress and anxiety. It is also one of the easiest to learn and simplest to practice.

If you are in Auckland (NZ) call me, Warwick Jones, on 09 419 5380, or email to to find our how Vedic Meditation could help you achieve better health.

Click here to find out more about Vedic Meditation