Are all fats bad for you?
Are all saturated fats created equal?
I know (and most experts agree) that saturated fats raise levels of LDL ("bad") cholesterol in the blood. And when excessive LDL accumulates in artery walls, you're at greater risk for a heart attack or stroke.
We also know that when it comes to heart health, unsaturated fats, such as those in oils, salmon, nuts and avocados, are better choices than the saturated fats in fatty meats, cheese and butter.
If you're in your thirties, you may not think you need to worry about heart problems yet, but what you eat now can affect your health in the long term. To keep your heart healthy you can:
Avoid unhealthy sat. fats and incorporate these good fats by cooking the recipes from EatingWell's heart-healthy recipes collection and our Mediterranean recipes collection.
Start making these 3 easy food swaps today:
Fast fat swap: Salmon for Steak (3 oz. each)
1.1 g sat. fat vs 9.1 g
Fast fat swap: Avocado for Brie
1.1 g sat. fat (1/4 avocado) vs 4.9 g (1 oz. brie)
Fast fat swap: Olive Oil for Butter (1 Tbsp. each)
1.9 g sat. fat vs 7.3 g
By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.
Brierley's interest in nutrition and food come together in her position as an associate editor at EatingWell. Brierley holds a master's degree in Nutrition Communication from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. A Registered Dietitian, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont.
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