Fats – myth busting guide to which ones are good for you.
Joy Daniel, RDN, LD

Whilst it’s important to try to eat a low fat diet, t’s also important to know about the different types of fats and the health implications of including them in your diet. Because, believe it or not, it ain’t all bad. The mono-unsaturated fats found in foods such as nuts, avocados and olive oil, for example, can actually help to lower cholesterol and protect the heart. On the other hand, the trans fatty acids found in biscuits and

Love eating lean

Swap full fat mayonnaise for a lighter option, use lower fat spreads where possible and read the ingredient labels on products in the supermarket.heart disease.

What different fats really do to your body:

• Saturated – Increase the amount of total cholesterol in the blood, which increases the risk of developing heart disease
• Poly-unsaturated – Can lower total cholesterol, which decreases the risk of developing heart disease
• Mono-unsaturated – Have a lowering effect on total cholesterol by encouraging the production of ‘good HDL’ cholesterol, which helps to protect the heart
• Omega 3 fatty acids – Help protect against coronary heart disease and can be found in oily fi sh
• Trans fatty acids – Often found in biscuits, cakes, fast food, pastry, palm oil and some margarines. They have a similar negative effect  on blood cholesterol as saturated fats
• Cholesterol – Cholesterol is essential for correct body functioning. We all produce cholesterol from the fats we eat, but some people produce more than others and this is where ‘raised cholesterol’ problems start