More than one third of Americans are obese. Some also have diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol. Obesity-related diseases are caused by poor nutrition and lack of exercise. Another problem is all the misleading information out there.
With so many conflicting studies, it’s hard to tell what healthy eating really means. Chicken casserole with parmesan may be the epitome of health for you, but it’s completely off limits for a vegetarian or a vegan. The Government’s dietary recommendations only make things worse.
What Does Healthy Eating Mean?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), food can be considered healthy if it meets the following requirements:
• Delivers at least 10 percent of the RDA of vitamins A and C, fiber, protein, iron, and calcium
• Is low in sodium and cholesterol
• Contains no more than one gram of saturated fat per serving
• Provides no more than three grams of total fat per serving
• Meat and fish may contain up to five grams of total fat and two grams of saturated fat per serving
These recommendations are wrong from a nutritional point of view. According to these rules, salmon, nuts, olive oil, avocado and other high-fat foods can not be labeled “healthy.” Breakfast cereals, granola, and pastries, on the other hand, are considered healthy because of their low fat content. Experts agree that these dietary guidelines are outdated. Yet, they encourage the population to follow them.
Is Dietary Fat Healthy or Not?
The fat-free craze gained popularity in the ’80s. Since then, obesity rates have increased. Low fat foods are not necessarily unhealthy, but they usually contain fillers, sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and empty carbs for extra flavor.
Oily fish, nuts, eggs, and nut butters are much healthier than most fat-free products, but they’ve gotten a bad rep due to their fat content. Dietary fat plays a key role in the functioning of your body, so there is no reason to ditch it. The key is to choose good fats, such as those found in avocado, almonds, and sardines, and avoid saturated and trans fats.
