Your body has a highway of arteries, veins and capillaries which transports your blood from the heart and lungs to the cells at the farthest reaches of your feet. This system of arteries and veins carries oxygen rich blood and nutrients to feed the cells and keep you alive. Unfortunately, this system can be damaged by a number of different factors; the consumption of fat is one of them. When damage occurs to these vessels your body no longer receives oxygen and nutrients in the amounts it needs and you can suffer significant consequences.
Different Fats
There are several different types of fats you might eat in your diet. Saturated and trans fatty acids are the most damaging to your body, while polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are the healthiest. The differences in these fats lies in the way in which the molecules are put together. According to the American Heart Association a saturated fat has carbon atoms that are saturated with hydrogen atoms and are typically solid at room temperature. In comparison, a polyunsaturated fat has more than one unsaturated carbon atom in the molecule and is typically liquid at room temperature and when chilled.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the arteries and reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that can be delivered to your cells. This plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in your bloodstream, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. While doctors have not been able to determine an exact cause of this condition they do know that a diet rich in saturate fats, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes or insulin resistance will significantly increase your risk of developing the condition. Diets that contain saturated fats contribute to these changes.
One Fatty Meal
In May 2007, Dr. G. Plotnick from the University of Maryland Medical Center discussed his findings that one meal high in saturated fats created changes in an individual;s arterial system. The study was designed to evaluate whether eating a diet high in fruits and vegetables for a month prior to a large meal heavy in saturated would blunt the effects of the high fat meal. The researchers found that eating a diet rich in phytonutrients from fruits and vegetables did reduce the bad effects of a high fat meal. They also found that the arteries in the body reacted abnormally for approximately six hours after eating a high fat meal and that the changes were temporary.
Blood Pressure, Cholesterol and Varicose Veins
Fats are calorie-dense, containing more than twice the number of calories per gram than carbohydrates or proteins, and can lead to obesity, according to Katherine Zeratsky, nutritionist at MayoClinic.com. Increasing weight will increase your risk of hypertension or high blood pressure. According to Plotnick, a significant increase in blood cholesterol can be expected when your diet is rich in fats and is also associated with atherosclerosis, stroke and heart attack. As your weight increases, so do the risk factors for developing varicose veins, which may signal a higher risk of other circulatory problems. According to MayoClinic.com, varicose veins cause an achy heavy feeling, throbbing, burning or itching around the veins.
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