Food Sources of Glycerol

Fats are made of glycerol and three fatty acids. The types of fatty acids in the fat determine if the fat is healthy or unhealthy. Foods that contain healthy fats, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids, can improve your cardiovascular health, whereas foods that contain unhealthy fats, such as saturated fat and trans fat, can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Consult your doctor about your diet and fat.

Fish

Cold-water fatty fish, such as salmon, tuna, herring and sardines, are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, such as eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that play a vital role in brain development, nervous system function and cardiovascular health. Increasing your dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids may reduce inflammation and lower your risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, arthritis and heart disease.

Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil contains a high concentration of omega-6 fatty acids, particularly linoleic acid. Omega-6 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat. Your body can convert linoleic acid into other omega-6 fatty acids, such as arachodonic acid and gamma-linolenic acid. Omega-6 fatty acids play a vital role in the structure and function of cell membranes, skin and hair. They also have anti-inflammatory properties. However, Americans eat too much omega-6 fatty acids and not enough omega-3 fatty acids.

Avocado

Avocado contains high amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids. Eating avocados can help you reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and can enhance weight loss results from a low-calorie diet. According to research published in "Nutrition" in January 2005, scientists at the Potchefstroom Institute of Nutrition in South Africa discovered that consuming 200 g per day of avocado as part of a low-calorie diet supports weight loss when it is eaten instead of 30 g of mixed dietary fat.

Animal Products

Red meat, poultry, pork and dairy contain saturated fat, an unhealthy fat that may increase your risk of heart disease. Increasing your dietary intake of saturated fat may increase your total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, the bad cholesterol. Saturated fat also increases your risk of cardiovascular inflammation. According to research published in the "Journal of the American College of Cardiology" in August 2006, scientists at the Heart Research Institute in Sydney, Australia found that consumption of saturated fat increases development of atherosclerosis by inhibiting the anti-inflammatory function of HDL cholesterol and impairing the blood flow function of endothelial cells that line the interior of blood vessels