FEBRUARY 7: KNOW YOUR GOOD FATS FROM BAD FATS

29 Days to a Healthier Heart

In contrast, a vegetarian diet is associated with a reduced risk of these diseases. In light of these facts, decreased consumption of saturated fat and cholesterol through the reduction or elimination of animal products becomes a compelling and rather obvious dietary choice to make.

At the very least, the intake of animal protein should be limited to no more than 4-6 ounces/day, with fish, skinless poultry, and lean cuts being preferred to the fat-laden choices (ie red meat, high fat dairy products, etc). With regard to nuts and seeds, while they do contain high levels of fat calories, these calories are derived largely from polyunsaturated essential fatty acids rather than saturated fat, making them a good dietary choice.

-Karen Hack, BHSc, ND