In our daily diet, we consume various types of nutrients. Nutrients are the sources of energy which help our body in functioning. Nutrients on the basis of their requirement in our diet are divided into two categories:
- Macro Nutrients: These are the nutrients which are required by the body in large quantities, eg Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates.
- Micro Nutrients: These are the nutrients which are required in lesser quantities, eg Vitamins and Minerals such as Calcium, Iron, Vitamin C etc
In this blog, we will discuss about Fats, how Fats have the most incorrect perception of all the nutrients.
Fat is one of the three main macronutrients, along with Carbohydrates and Proteins. Fat is the highest source of energy as compared to carbohydrates and proteins. It is naturally found in animal products (meat and dairy), nuts, seeds and some fruits like olives and avocados.
There are two types of fat, unsaturated and saturated fat. Both have very different effects on our health. However, it is important to remember that when eaten in large amounts, all fats contribute the same amount of kilojoules (energy) and can contribute to weight gain.
Unsaturated fats
Unsaturated fats are often called ‘healthy fats’ as they help reduce heart disease, and lower cholesterol levels. These fats are liquid at room temperature. There are two types of unsaturated fats, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated.
Monounsaturated fats are found in olive oil, canola oil, avocados and nuts. Replacing saturated fats in the diet with monounsaturated fats helps to lower cholesterol levels.
Polyunsaturated fats include omega-3 and omega-6 fats that have slightly different health benefits. Omega-3 fats are found in oily fish, eggs, linseed, walnuts and soybeans and have been shown to be protective against heart disease. Omega-6 fats are found in nuts, sunflower seeds, sunflower and sesame oil and margarine spreads. They have been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease when consumed in place of saturated fats.
Saturated fats
Saturated fats are considered ‘unhealthy fats’ as eating too much of them can contribute to high cholesterol levels and heart disease risk. These fats are generally solid at room temperature with the exception of palm and coconut oil. They are the main type of fat in milk, cream, butter, cheese, meat and palm and coconut oils.
Trans-fats
They are found in some pastries, biscuits and fast foods.. Trans fats are unsaturated fats that behave similarly to saturated fats in the body because of their chemical shape. They can be found naturally occurring in some foods or in processed foods. Trans fats are produced during some manufacturing processes and have been found to be more harmful than saturated fat to heart health. For this reason, trans fats should be avoided in the diet and replaced with mono or polyunsaturated fats where possible.
When choosing packaged foods, look for those lower in saturated fat and minimal to zero trans fats. Avoid foods that contain ”hydrogenated oils” or “partially hydrogenated vegetable oils” in the ingredients list.
Cholesterol is needed by the body to provide structure to cell membranes and to make hormones and some vitamins such as vitamin D. Our body produces around three quarters of our cholesterol while the other quarter comes from food. It is important to remember that eating cholesterol in food does not significantly raise your blood cholesterol levels as much as eating saturated and trans fats.
How to reduce saturated fats in the diet
- Swap full fat dairy foods for reduced or low fat dairy foods for all family members over the age of 2
- Swap butter for a margarine spread made from canola, sunflower or olive oil
- Where possible, bake, roast or steam food instead of frying
- Trim all visible fat from meat, remove skin from chicken and try to avoid processed meat (e.g. sausages and salami)
- Limit cakes, pastries, biscuits and high fat snack foods such as chips. Encourage kids to view these foods as special occasion rather than everyday foods
- Limit take away and fast food to a maximum of once per week
How much unsaturated fat should I include in my child’s diet?
Including small amounts of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated spreads and oils or small amounts of nuts and seeds can provide essential fatty acids and some fat-soluble vitamins. However, unsaturated fat are also high in kilojoules, so it is important to keep quantities small to balance with total energy needs.
