Culinary Travel - follow your senses

"Standing on the red corner weighing at Saturated Fat and Trans Fat, the Bad Fat. On the blue corner is the Good Fat who is Monounsaturated and Polyunsaturated. Which of the two is more dominant in the eyes of the consumer? "


It is about efficiency and convenience in the consumer world. In our fast-track society, we tend to miss out on the simplest of details in eating healthy. In diets, people tend to think fat right off the bat. Fat is very influential in your dietary habits and physical composition.

There are 4 kinds of fats; 2 on the good side and 2 on the bad side. As you see on the chart on your left, it provides examples of the different types of fats and how they affect you.

In supermarkets, delis, and wholesale retailers, you might find more of the saturated type and trans fat. You might find trans fat in the most unexpected places, such as some fast food restaurant foods like chicken McNuggets, instant Ramen noodles, donuts, and frozen pies. Watch out at fast food restaurants because a little of something can add up.

Saturated Fat is the main factor to high blood cholesterol. It is found mostly in animals and plants. It can lead to heart disease or type 2 diabetes. However, we also need fat to have a healthy diet, so not eating fat does not mean you are doing yourself a favor.

It's important to have some fat in our diet because fat helps the body absorb some vitamins, it's a good source of energy and a source of the essential fatty acids that the body can't make itself. Having more fat means you get more energy than you really need, so it is better to replace your fat-filled foods with rather low-fat alternatives.

For alternatives, you might want to look for foods with unsaturated fat (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated). These types of fats can actually reduce cholesterol levels and provide us with the essential fatty acids that the body needs. They include the unsaturated fats found in oily fish, which may help prevent heart disease. You can try out these techniques to replace your unhealthy eating habits.
-Instead of using butter or lard as a cooking oil, you can try out vegetable oils such as canola oil, olive oil, or sunflower oil.
-Chew on some unsalted nuts to replace your munchies like chips or biscuits
-Eat oily fish instead of sausages because oily fish contains omega 3 oils that help protect against coronary heart disease

Remember that your health is dependent on you. So eat smart and exercise!