We have heard of Low Fat and No Fat food. But do we know what are they and the difference between them?. We have different types of products available in the market when it comes to Fat content. There are “Fat-Free”, “Low-Fat”, “Reduced-Fat” and “Light” food items available. The food standards classifies food items as below.
- Low-Fat foods must be containing 3 grams of Fat (or less) per serving
- Reduced-Fat items must have at least 25% less Fat than their regular versions
- Light foods must have either 1/3 fewer Calories or 50% less Fat content
- Fat-Free or No-Fat food items must have less than 0.5 gram of Fat per serving
Fat-Free or No-Fat foods not always are tasty. So, to make them taste good, the producers add different ingredients like Sugar, Flour, Salt etc. These add more calories to food items. One must be limiting the amount of Saturated and Trans Fats in the diet. It is the type of Fat that we eat rather than the amount of Fat which matters.
Good Fats include Monosaturated Fats, that lower the LDL (Bad) Cholesterol in the Blood Stream. There are many food items which have Good Fat. Polyunsaturated Fats also help in lowering the LDL Cholesterol like Fat found in Tuna and Salmon.
Low-Fat food items also can be less tasty compared to Full-Fat products. But they are comparatively better for your health. Low-Fat diets are helpful if you are recovering from a Gallbladder or Pancreas disease. They also prevent Heartburn, cut Weight and improve Cholesterol.
So, when buying food items, read the label carefully and select your items according to your health conditions.
Read about some of the Low-Fat food items here
Read also about starting a low-fat eating plan here
Disclaimer: Information provided for public awareness only and collected from various sources. Consult your doctor or an experienced dietitian before starting with any specific diet plans
