The Truth About Fat
How much do you really know about fat? Good Housekeeping separates the
myth from reality.
Myth: In the battle of the bulge, fat is your foe.
Reality: The number-one enemy for dieters is calories, and many calories
don't come from fat. Instead, they come from consuming too many no-fat
soft drinks and low-fat bread, muffins and chips.
Myth: All fat is bad for your heart and health.
Reality: New research shows that a balance between different types of
fats can be beneficial to regulating blood pressure and clotting.
Myth: All fats are created equal.
Reality: Monounsaturated fats found in olive, canola and peanut oils --
as well as omega-3 polyunsaturated fats in fish like white tuna -- are
good for you. What types of fats should you avoid? Saturated fats found
in fatty cuts of meat and trans-fats, an ingredient often found in snack
foods and margarines (for trans-fats, look for the phrase "partially
hydrogenated" on the label).
GH advice: Eat salmon instead of steak; pass on the fast-food fried fish
sandwich and order the grilled chicken sandwich instead; and replace
bacon bits and croutons on your salad with avocado and nuts.
Copyright 2003 by Good Housekeeping. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.