In association with healthy eating week, we want to help you debunk some of the fads and fallacies to do with nutrition and healthy eating. One of our expert Nutrition tutors Becki Douglas has shared with us some of her insight into a common myth around healthy eating to do with high-fat foods, and whether high-fat foods can, in fact, be healthy.
Check out the video below and see what Becki has to say about high-fat foods:
“Well, I would suggest that in this world there are very few bad foods, but many people have bad eating habits. No food or items should be looked at in isolation.
So much of it is down to the individual’s needs and what merits we can put to those things as part of the bigger picture.
Fat is high in calories.
Yes, it contains 9 calories per gram. That’s over double protein and carbohydrate. But as long as you’re eating within your overall energy requirements, there isn’t necessarily a problem.”
“The issue linked to weight management starts when fat may be contributing to an excess of overall energy within the types of fats that we choose.
There are, of course, more preferential options and vice versa.
We want to be limiting our intake of saturated fats and trans fats, but for most of us, we actually need to be focusing on eating more of the essential fatty acids, particularly Omega 3.
We need to try and incorporate more oily fish, more nuts and seeds.”
“The rolls of those essential fats are really important, and as the name suggests, we can’t make those fats in our body, so we need to eat them.
They’re involved in the immune system in metabolic rate, inflammation in supporting joints, skin, cardiovascular health and neurological health.
So focus on overall calorie requirements remaining within those. And look at changing your types of fat choices towards healthier options, particularly Omega 3.”
Looking to gain more skills and knowledge about Nutrition? Check out our Nutrition Courses here.