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The facts about fat
Some fat is needed in the diet because it helps the body take up certain vitamins, it is a source of essential fatty acids, which the body can’t make for itself and it supplies energy. It is important not to have too much fat in the diet, so you should choose lower fat foods.Fat is made up of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fatty acids are usually solid at room temperature and generally come from animal sources. High levels of saturated fat in the diet can increase the amount of cholesterol in the blood and so increase the risk of heart disease.
Different food groups contribute different amounts of total and saturate fat in the diet, so it is important to choose a balanced diet, which is not too high in saturated fat.
Unsaturated fatty acids can be good for your health. They can be divided into two groups, monounsaturated fatty acids or MUFAs, and polyunsaturated fatty acids or PUFAs. There are two families of PUFAs, the omega 3 family and the omega 6 family. Certain types of omega 3 PUFAs have been shown to be good for heart health. These omega 3 PUFAs are found in high levels in meat produced from animals grazed on grass.
Health professionals inform us that our diet is lacking in omega 3, so eating meat from grass fed beef or lamb can contribute to a healthy level of omega 3 in your diet.
Need more information?
More details about how to have a healthy, balanced diet can be found in our publication 'Getting the Balance Right' which can be downloaded here [PDF 2.9Mb]
Further information about diet and health can be obtained from:
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