Did you know that 64% of adults in the UK are overweight or obese. Research has shown that this increasing problem is caused by a contribution of both inactivity and diets high in fat.
Fats are often high in calories so you should only use them in small amounts. For the health of your heart it’s especially important to avoid saturated fats which can be easily done by making a few small and healthy changes to your diet.
There are several types of fat and choosing the right type is also important for your health.
Saturated Fats (The Fats to avoid)
These fats can raise the amount of cholesterol in your blood, especially the harmful cholesterol (LDL) which increases the risk of fatty deposits developing in your arteries.
This type of fat is often found in butter, hard cheese, cream and fatty meat.
Too much saturated fat can cause exessive weight gain and increase the amount of chelestrol in the blood, so these fats should be avoided wherever possible.
Trans Fats (The Fat to avoid)
These fats occur naturally in small amounts in dairy foods and meat, but of which we eat are industrially produced. These fats have similar effects on the body to saturated fats and are often found in cakes, pastries and deep fried foods.
Monounsaturated Fats & Polyunsaturated Fats (The fat to have in small amounts)
These fats can help to lower your LDL cholesterol levels and are often found in olive oil as well as some nuts and seeds.
They provide essential fatty acids which are an important part of the diet, often found in oily fish, soya, nuts and seeds.
Here are our 4 top tips to reduce the amount of fat that you eat:
1. Cut down on high fat snacks and use fruit and veg as a healthy alternative.
2. Chose low fat dairy products, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk.
3. Buy lean cuts of meat and remove any visible fat or skin before cooking.
4. Boiling, steaming, poaching or microwaving can be a healthier alternative to frying. Use non stick trays or pans to avoid excess oil, If you do use oil measure it out your oil using a teaspoon or use spay oil as an alternative.
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