Summary
While growing numbers of Americans are obese, many are taking charge of their diets and decreasing fat and sugar intake, but it is important to remember that fat is a major source of energy and that some foods like fish and nuts contain immune-enhancing fats.
Original source:
http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=1204029&cid=28
Details
Are you stuck in the '70s, and afraid of fat?
Fat-free still registers in some people's psyche as a healthy way to eat.
It's time for an attitude adjustment, because all fats are not bad.
some are essential to good health, including vitamin and mineral absorption, hormone production and cell structure.
The U.S. government has changed the recommendations for the 2005 Dietary Guidelines.
The old guidelines had fat way up top of the pyramid, in the narrowest part, next to sugar.
Fat was to be kept to a minimum, which made consumers think that all fats are bad.
However, some actually help lower cholesterol and prevent disease, leading the USDA to change the fat recommendation.
They've flipped the pyramid on its side, so that consumers understand that within the fat category, some fats should be included regularly, but others should only be eaten occasionally, if at all.
The new pyramid reflects the ruling that takes effect on January 1, 2006.
Soon consumers can read the number of grams per serving of trans-fat, which is linked to coronary heart disease.
Populations who eat their fat calories from nuts, seeds, olive and canola oil, avocado and fatty fish like salmon, sardine and mackerel remain healthier than those who eat a lot of fried foods, fatty meat and hydrogenated fats in packaged foods.
Fat tastes good, and makes food taste good.
But, since fat has twice the calories of protein and carbohydrate, most people can't eat it indiscriminately.
Fat needs to be fine-tuned, especially when you're trying to lose weight on a balanced program.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a mission to teach personal and planetary health to the public He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, and he has created several downloadable courses on survival and preparedness, including his widely-downloaded course on personal safety and self-defense. Adams is a trusted, independent journalist who receives no money or promotional fees whatsoever to write about other companies' products. In 2010, Adams launched TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural health video site featuring videos on holistic health and green living. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also a veteran of the software technology industry, having founded a personalized mass email software product used to deliver email newsletters to subscribers. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and regularly pursues cycling, nature photography, Capoeira and Pilates. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org
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Friday, July 08, 2005
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