Fat and The Health Benefits
Fat is an absolutely essential component of a healthy diet. Why we need fat:
- To give the body energy
- To support cell growth
- To protect your organs and keep you warm
- Aid in the production of hormones
- Helps in the absorption of vitamins
Fat has long been seen as the ‘baddy’ of the food world, with much of the media speculating on the damage it could be doing to our health. However, many experts and reports are now stating that healthy fats will benefit your health and wellbeing. The guidelines state that we should consume 70g of fat per day, with no more than 30g of saturated fat for men, and no more than 20g of saturated fat for women. (Saturated fat is made up of saturated fatty acids which are believed to pack tightly into the bloodstream once consumed and increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/ ‘bad’ cholesterol.) However, approximately 20% of people in the UK are consuming above these guidelines on a daily basis. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated are vital fats for us to consume as the body is unable to produce them on it’s own and have been shown to have a wide range of health benefits.
On the surface, the fat content between these pairings of foods don’t appear to show a drastic difference. However, when you look into the details, you will find the radical differences between them and the impact they can have on your health, both positive and negative.
