Linda Aldrich is a trained nutritionist who offers advice on healthy eating
"No Fat" vs. "Low Fat"
“No-Fat” Versus “Low-Fat”- Which Is Really Healthier For You?
People watching their weight often say, “Oh, I only eat fat-free foods.” But many processed foods that claim to be fat-free may be less healthy than some low-fat foods!
There’s a good reason for this. Since fat is one of the primary sources of flavor in processed foods, manufacturers often replace it with sugar, so processed foods labeled fat-free are often higher in carbohydrates than those labeled low-fat. They may also contain trans fats, which are much worse than saturated fats.
Read the label If you see the words “hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated,” it contains trans fats. This is because the FDA permits foods containing less than .5 gram of trans fat per serving to be labeled “zero trans fats.” All the more reason to avoid eating processed foods.
Our bodies need some fat to keep our metabolism in balance. Because fats take longer to digest than sugar, they tend to better satisfy our appetites and keep our craving for sweets under control.
Eat healthy fats Healthy fats also promote absorption of essential vitamins such as A, D, E and K, which are soluble in fat rather than water, and help stabilize our glucose (blood sugar) level. In fact, excess glucose from refined carbohydrates, not fat, is the real cause of coronary disease, cancer, and many other illnesses.
Eating just 5 or 10 nuts, one-fourth of an avocado, or small amounts of flax seed oil, seeds and coconuts, or cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil provides plenty of dietary fat for aiding vitamin absorption. These healthy fats also contain omega –3, which rids the body of excess cholesterol.
If you are interested in learning more about how nutrition affects your health, I invite you to attend one of my weekly seminars where you’ll not only learn to eat better but to feel better as well.
