High-Fat Foods to Ban from Your Diet
Are you confused about what fats are healthy to eat? Well, that’s not surprising. Much of the information online today is conflicting and it’s hard to know what to believe.
For example, one article tells us that fat is bad for you and then another says that some fats are good for you. It’s also hard to determine how much fat you’re consuming by reading the portion size on the package. Often, the actual amount we eat does not match the portion size. The goal of this article is to help you sort things out, so you’ll be better educated about what to eat and what not to eat.
First, you should eat only about 60-70 grams of fat per day. This includes both the good and the bad fat.
There are health benefits to limiting your intake of fat because eating too much can cause high cholesterol. Cholesterol must be kept within limits or it might cause strokes and heart disease.
Saturated and trans fats are extremely unhealthy. Doctors usually recommend that you eat little or no trans fat in your daily diet. Trans fat is often found in junk food and processed food, and saturated fats are generally found in chicken, butter, and meat.
On the other hand, unsaturated fats, including polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are healthy and needed to support the efficient working of your body and your general health. These fats can be found in fatty fish, plant oils, and nuts.
High-Fat Foods You Should Avoid
– Snack Foods
These foods are readily available and easy to grab when you want a snack, but they contain high amounts of trans fats and that is the bad fat. If you want an easy snack, it’s always better to eat nuts because they contain healthy fats.
– Cakes
Of course, you know that you can’t live off a diet of sweet snacks and cakes, as tempting as that may be. That’s because they contain unwanted flavorings and chemicals that are not healthy. In addition, they often contain high amounts of fat which is made worse when you add a second helping or whipped cream.
– Fast food
Even though you know that fast food is not good for you, you probably still eat it. The problem is that all kinds of chemicals, additives, and trans fats are added to it. That’s what makes it taste so good. Also, if you order a hamburger and add a milkshake and fries, you will be well over your daily fat allowance in just that one meal.
– Lard and Butter
Because they are made of fat, butter and lard are always bad for you. But butter makes everything taste better, so you eat it even though it’s high in fat. In fact, there are 81 grams of fat in 100 grams of butter.
– Fatty Meats
Fatty meats are another thorny issue when it comes to wading through conflicting information. We do need protein in our diets, but you should limit your intake of red meat and choose proteins that are lower in fat. For example, chicken and fish are a good choice.
– Oil-Based Dressings and Oils
There is a huge number of different varieties of cooking oils in the groceries these days. This makes it hard to choose the best ones. Of course, all oils contain fat, but some are better for you than others. In particular, olive oil is always the best choice. Olive oil is the basic oil used in Mediterranean cooking, and people who consume it are known to have low levels of heart disease. Also, grapeseed oil and Canola are good for you.
– Cheese
Most people love cheese, but unfortunately, it is high in bad fat. Small amounts are good for you because it is a good source of protein and calcium. But larger portions should not be eaten.
So, the subject of fat consumption is a highly debated topic, but it is possible to cut through all the hype and misinformation. Hopefully, you now feel better prepared to make healthy selections.
