Basic fat chemistry and stability

Harmful fats can be incredibly damaging to your health! Find out about the most dangerous fat to remove from your diet immediately and which healthy fats to replace it with. Ditch the unhealthy fats today!

0:00 Introduction: The worst fats for health

0:19 Unhealthy fats explained

0:53 Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats

2:02 What are hydrogenated fats?

3:11 Saturated fat

3:50 Side effects of unhealthy fats

8:57 The most dangerous fat

11:48 The benefits of healthy fat

What are the unhealthiest types of fats? Let’s take a look. Saturated fats are very stable and don’t react much to oxygen because they don’t have double bonds.

Fats with double bonds are more unstable and react more readily with oxygen, resulting in increased oxidation. Monounsaturated fats have one double bond, while polyunsaturated fats have many double bonds. More double bonds mean more oxidation.

Avocado and olive oil are monounsaturated fats, so they’re moderately stable. Polyunsaturated fats, such as corn oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, soy oil, canola oil, and cottonseed oil, contain many double bonds, so they’re unstable and prone to significant oxidation. Hydrogenated oils are unsaturated fats that have been chemically turned into saturated fats.

Saturated fats such as lard, tallow, and butter are solid at room temperature and are very stable.

Although they are unsaturated fats, fish oil and cod liver oil have potent anti-inflammatory benefits and omega-3s, but can sometimes be rancid due to their instability. Be careful where you source them!

Heat and light create toxic byproducts in unsaturated fats called aldehydes. These toxic compounds destroy your DNA, lodge in your cell membranes, and damage the insulin receptors on the surface of your cells. They can also make your cells stiff and fragile.

For years, saturated fats have been demonized, and unsaturated fats have been recommended! This has also occurred with other foods, such as red meat and grains.

Check out this comprehensive list, which ranges from the most harmful fats to the healthiest. Number 1 is the most dangerous!

1. Partially hydrogenated fat

2. Hydrogenated fat

3. Reused PUFA frying oil

4. Soy oil

5. Corn oil

6. Sunflower oil or safflower oil

7. Cottonseed oil

8. Canola oil

9. Grapeseed oil

10. Rice bran oil

11. Peanut oil

12. Refined avocado oil

13. Refined olive oil

14. Conventional lard

15. Conventional tallow

16. Coconut oil

17. Grass-fed butter

18. Cold-pressed avocado oil

19. Cold-pressed, extra-virgin olive oil

Dr. Eric Berg DC Bio:

Dr. Berg, age 60, is a chiropractor who specializes in Healthy Ketosis & Intermittent Fasting. He is the Director of Dr. Berg Nutritionals and author of the best-selling book The Healthy Keto Plan. He no longer practices, but focuses on health education through social media.

Disclaimer:

Dr. Eric Berg received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1988. His use of “doctor” or “Dr.” in relation to himself solely refers to that degree. Dr. Berg is a licensed chiropractor in Virginia, California, and Louisiana, but he no longer practices chiropractic in any state and does not see patients, so he can focus on educating people as a full-time activity, yet he maintains an active license. This video is for general informational purposes only. It should not be used to self-diagnose, and it is not a substitute for a medical exam, cure, treatment, diagnosis, prescription, or recommendation. It does not create a doctor-patient relationship between Dr. Berg and you. You should not make any change in your health regimen or diet before first consulting a physician and obtaining a medical exam, diagnosis, and recommendation. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.