Fats

Saturated fats are solid at room temperature and are found mainly in the following animal and dairy products:

• meat
• butter
• cream
• cheese
• eggs
• lard
• full fat milk
• suet and dripping
• full fat yoghurt.

Hydrogenation increases the shelf-life of food, but it also creates trans fats (trans-fatty acids) that are harmful for health.

Hydrogenated margarine or butter is often used for making cakes, biscuits and pastry.

Unsaturated fat
Unsaturated fats are generally liquid at room temperature.

They come from vegetable sources and are also found in oily fish and in soft margarines labelled 'high in polyunsaturates'.

Unsaturated fats contain essential fatty acids that cannot be manufactured by the body. This means you need to get them from food.

Good sources of unsaturated fats include:

• avocados (one quarter of an avocado contains 5g of unsaturated fat)
• unsalted nuts (cashew, brazil, pecan, walnut)
• seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame).

In particular, studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids protect against heart disease. Oily fish is the best source of omega-3:

• salmon
• tuna
• trout
• sardines
• mackerel
• pilchards
• herring.

• corn oil
• flaxseed oil
• nut oil
• safflower oil
• sunflower oil
• virgin olive oil.

Tips for healthy living
We tend to eat a lot of fat, so aim to include some essential fatty acids in your daily diet and reduce your intake of saturated fats. Below are a few ways to improve your diet.

Swap saturated fat for unsaturated

• Cook with vegetable oil instead of lard, butter or margarine, and use sparingly. Sesame seed oil is a good choice for stir-frying.
• Pour warmed virgin olive oil on bread instead of butter or margarine.
• Replace the meat in your Sunday roast with salmon or trout.
• Dress your salads with virgin or nut oils instead of mayonnaise.
• Instead of reaching for crisps or chocolate, try one of these: pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, unsalted nuts or raw vegetables.

Get the most from your food

• Check food labels for fat content before you put something in your trolley. It can be surprising how much (and how little) fat some foods contain. Knowing what food contains means you can find a healthier, tasty alternative.
• Poach or lightly grill your oily fish to maintain the essential fatty acid content.
• Purchase and store your vegetable oils in dark frosted glass bottles. Light and heat can easily destroy the oils' nutrients.

Make healthier choices

• Choose lean meat or poultry and remove the excess fat before cooking. This means the skin on chicken breasts, the rind on bacon, the crackling on pork.
• Avoid margarine that contains hydrogenated oil. This will be stated on the packaging, so check your favourite brand. Margarines made without hydrogenated oil include Clover, Biona and Olivio.
• Choose your dairy products carefully. You won't compromise your calcium intake by opting for lower-fat yoghurts and skimmed or semi-skimmed milk.
• Keep frying and roasting to a minimum. Better choices are to bake, grill, steam or stir-fry.
• Make biscuits, cakes and pastry an occasional treat. They are high in saturated fats and are likely to contain hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Other articles in this series

• General lifestyle management
• Body weight
• Protein
• Carbohydrates
• Fibre
• Soya
• Water
• Caffeine
• Smoking and nutrition
• Alcohol metabolism
• Exercise

The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use

© Copyright 1998 - 2009 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved