Here’s What Makes Bad Fats Bad

You've heard that saturated fats from red meat are generally less healthy than the unsaturated fats found in vegetables and seafood. A new study published in The Quarterly Review of Biology helps explain why: Saturated fats promote inflammation. Because these animal fats can provide a carbon source to fuel bacterial growth, your body responds with inflammation. Unsaturated fats have antimicrobial properties that weaken bacteria cells and work as an anti-inflammatory agent in your digestive system.

True Strength Moment: It's important to remember that the inflammatory response triggered by the consumption of saturated fat is low-level and relatively short lived. There's nothing wrong with eating red meat every once in a while to add variation to your diet. But it's easy to see how the frequent consumption of saturated fats can weigh down a healthy lifestyle over time.