I have noticed that we have become a fat free nation. Everywhere we look we see “fat free” labels. Yet we are becoming fatter!
If you are getting less tahn 25 to 30 percent of your daily calories from fat, you may experience mood swings and not feel satisfied. Diets with less than 25 percent of calories from fat have been shown to increase anger and anxiety, according to a study in the British Journal of Nutrition. And it could even sabotage your weight loss efforts: Sixty percent of brain mass is made of healthy fat, so depriving yourself may even trigger the body to hoard any type of fat and make it tougher to lose weight, says Kleiner. “Plus, eating a lot of fat-free foods is apt to leave you unsatisfied and craving something more substantial, which may make you overindulge at dinner or reach for a late-night snack.”
Food Fix: To fatten up your diet the healthy way, try adding a side to your meal of steamed spinach, broccoli, or other veggies, (we like the Birds Eye Steamfresh bags) drizzled with olive oil or tossed with sliced almonds. Another option: Mix low-mercury canned tuna, such as Fishing Vessel St. Jude, with greens and 2 Tbsp reduced-fat olive oil and balsamic vinegar dressing.
