The Facts About Fats

Hello.

I’m Carolyn Small.  I want to share a few facts about fats with you.

Fats share some common traits.  For example, they all give your body energy and according to the American Heart Association (AHA) they all have 9 calories per gram. But some fats are better than others.  I didn’t say that there are good fats, only that some are “better” than others. 

Read on.

Both saturated fat and trans fats are bad for you because they raise your bad cholesterol (LDL), which means they can both increase your risk for heart disease.

On the other hand according to the AHA, monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fat are better fats because they lower your bad cholesterol and decrease your risk of heart disease.

What was that you said?  You already know all of this.  You do?

Then why are you still stuffing yourself with foods that contain the “bad” fats - foods such as bakery goods (doughnuts and pastries) and fried foods like French fries?  Why do you still eat fatty meat, chicken with the skin still on it, butter and full-fat dairy products regularly?  Granted, you do not have to give up these food items entirely, but eat them infrequently.    

I know it isn’t easy.  I love to eat all the “wrong” foods myself.  I struggle everyday sticking to a healthy diet.  But I do it, and so can you.  Do I ever cheat?  Yes I do!  But, I work out harder at my next exercise session. 

Remember:  you want to burn more calories and fat than what you put in your body.  So if you “splurge” a little, you’re going to have to rev up the cardio to burn off the results of your splurging.

Let me put this differently, if you consume more calories that you burn, you will gain weight.  So make sure you eat all fats in moderation.   

Talk to you soon.  By the way, check out the link below for tasty recipes in the American Heart Association Low-Salt Cookbook, 3rd Edition: A Complete Guide to Reducing Sodium and Fat in Your Diet.

Best wishes,

Carolyn

Rich, fatty foods are like destiny:  they too, shape our ends.  ~Author Unknown



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