By Jessica Carniol
When you think about going on a diet, chances are the word “low-fat” comes to mind. The diet industry has made people think that “fat” is a dirty word, well the truth is, it’s not! There are two associations of fat that we need to distinguish from each other. The first is the excess fat on our body, which is the bad kind. The second kind is the fat that is found in foods, which isn’t always bad.
It is important when we think about fat to be able to label which kinds are bad and which kinds are good, so that when you check the labels when you are buying something, you know what to avoid! The first type of fat to avoid like the plague is trans fat. This type of fat is the highly processed, artery-clogging, garbage that we do not want to be putting in our bodies. Fortunately, health agencies have realized the danger of trans fat, and have removed it from many of the items that are served in restaurants and on grocery store shelves, but that by no means makes it extinct. Be sure to make sure that no trans fat enters your body. One product that I noticed had trans fat was a honey bun from the vending machine. While I am on this note, an easy health tip to remember is that if the list of ingredients on a food item is about a paragraph long and full of items that you can’t even begin to pronounce, it’s highly processed, highly chemical, and most importantly highly disgusting to be putting in your body!
Another type of fat to avoid is saturated fat. This fat is found in greasy, fried foods and raises both your cholesterol and the number on the scale. Saturated fat is usually located right under the “Total Fat” listing on the nutrition information section of the product’s packaging.
Now to the positive part! The fats that are not just ok for your body, but actually great for your body! These two fats are monounsaturated fat and polyunsaturated fats. These fats are not only beneficial for your weight loss or maintenance, but give your shiny hair, strong nails, and radiant skin…who doesn’t want that?!? Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats can help regulate your digestive system, provide lasting energy, and have even been found in some studies to decrease belly fat. Some foods that are rich in these good fats are healthy oils such as olive oil, sunflower oil, and canola oil, natural nut butters (peanut butter…yum!), fish, avocado, and even dark chocolate!
For a delicious dip that is full of healthy fat whip up some guacamole using an avocado, a teaspoon of lemon juice, and a heaping tablespoon of salsa. Enjoy this dip with a sliced up pita brushed with olive oil – simply bake it in the oven for 5-10 minutes.
A good book that talks about healthy fats is The Flat Belly Diet by nutritionist Cynthia Sass. While I am not necessarily recommending the diet itself, the book contains a plethora of information about the benefits of healthy fats. So, after reading this I hope you no longer think that “fat” is a dirty word and start enjoying the healthy fats that are beneficial for your body and your taste buds. Personally I view it as an excuse to enjoy some delicious dark chocolate, so enjoy!
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