Low Fat Diet

In our Q&A for low fat diets, we look at some of the key questions, and possible answers, that come up when discussing the value of low fat diets. Perhaps the most common Q&A has to do with why go on a low fat diet in the first place?

There are in fact a number of good reasons. The most important of which may be that high consumption of saturated fat has been proven to lead to high cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol can build up on the inside of your arteries thereby partially restricting or blocking the flow of your blood. This in turn leads to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, and strokes.

High cholesterol levels are potentially fatal. So if you're worried, ask your doctor to test your cholesterol levels and advise you on what dietary restrictions you may need to make. In addition, fat is the body's way of storing energy.

It is broken down for use far more slowly than proteins or carbohydrates and is therefore more likely to add to your overall weight. Being overweight or obese also puts considerable strain on your heart and on your body in general.

So should I be cutting out fat completely? It's over simplistic to describe fat as evil. It is in fact an important part of any healthy diet. The key here is what kinds of fat are you consuming? Unsaturated fats, such as that found in nuts, seeds, and oily fish, are in fact good for lowering your cholesterol levels and keeping your body's systems running efficiently. Saturated fats, such as those found in deep fried foods, chips, and cakes, are the ones that clog up your arteries and pile on the pounds. Watch out for hydrogenated fats that are often present in vegetable oils. These are fats that used to be unsaturated but have been chemically processed so that they are now as dangerous as saturated fats.