Total Fat

Surely you will learn a thing or two by reading the following article.

The words "total fat" seem to be everywhere we look. Society has become obsessed with fad diets that claim to eliminate carbohydrates or lower our total fat consumption considerably. The problem lays in the very word "diet" itself. At one time diet meant the foods we took in daily. Now it refers to a way to lose weight or change a number on a laboratory test. The adage "you are what you eat" is very true. A body fueled by junk food does not run as efficiently as one fueled on healthy food.

The total fat enigma came about when scientist discovered that there are "good" fats and there are "bad" fats. The average person is inundated with terms such as unsaturated or monounsaturated. Bad fats will usually be fats that are solid when unheated. Examples of these are animal fats, shortenings and butter. Good fats are the monounsaturated fats that are liquid. Examples of these are peanut oil and vegetable oil.

Furthering this dilemma along is the mystery of how to decrease the total fat in the daily diet. How can you find ways to cut the fat? By trying a few simple changes in the way you cook. Switching the type of fat you intake can significantly decrease the amount bad fat in your daily diet. Some fats can also lower your bad cholesterol and raise your good cholesterol levels.

Healthy cooking is not something to be dreaded. It does not mean a life filled with bland or tasteless food. Cooking light reduces calories and helps lower your total fat by making a few substitutions that you will not notice in the end but your scales might. You can prepare many of the same foods you love to eat but by making a few changes that will hardly be noticed.

Many of us do not pay attention to how much fat or oil we use to cook our food. Frying adds unnecessary calories and fat that we can do without. You can try lowering your total fat by skipping the oil and trying a cooking spray and baking. You will be surprised how delicious it can be. Instead of using a flour batter to coat meat, consider a bread crumb coating. The outside gets a nice crispy finish and you get a healthier meal.

We do not have to give up food that we love to eat. Healthy cooking allows us to still have our favorite dishes but prepared in ways that reduce the percentage of total fat in our diet. Taking care of our bodies is important and even though medical science has helped lengthen our lives, it is up to us to keep our bodies in shape. Take control of your life and health by choosing healthy foods low in total fat and by exercising. After all, science may be able to help us out some but in the end it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves.

Hope this article was just right, take a look at our other articles while you're here.

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