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How to Keep Saturated Fats in Your Diet

Besides getting outside and exercising more often, one of the best things we can do for our health is improve our diet. One of the best things to cut down on is the level of saturated fat in the food we eat. This kind of fat can be found in foods like butter, cheese, cream, pastries, and fatty meats.

According to both the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), saturated fats should be reduced to less than 10% of our daily intake of calories. These fats have been commonly linked to high cholesterol, as well as to heart disease and even certain types of cancer.

However, some researchers--like Dr. Assem Malhotra of Croydon University Hospital--have called in question the value of reducing saturated fats in our food. Some food suppliers have replaced these fats with sugar, which still puts a high risk for heart disease. Others have also pointed to the traditional diet of French people, who have less instances of heart disease despite eating foods rich in butter and other fats.

If we look closer at the French way of eating, we see that their traditional diet isn't just based on high-fat foods. For one thing, the amount of saturated fats in their meals is usually balanced out with fiber and protein. In addition, although the French were known for developing multi-course meals, they believed in controlling the size of their portions instead of trying to eat as much as possible.

If you want to enjoy some saturated fats, try to focus on eating specific foods like coconut and whole grain wheat. You can also check that you lower the amount of butter and cream you eat, although you don't have to eliminate it entirely. Be sure to balance these fats out with good sources of protein (like lean meat and nuts) and fiber (like vegetables). Avoid anything with a high amount of sugar or carbohydrates.

According to Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don't Get Fat (whose research was referenced above), the real key to a successful way of eating is to eat less to fill yourself up and eat smaller and better-prepared portions of what you already enjoy. Adopting this attitude of balance and self-restraint when it comes to saturated fats will allow you to take better control of your health and your future.

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