One of the most commonly made New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight and get in shape. Many people make that same resolution over and over again every year, vowing to do better this year than the year before. With so many different diet programs being sold on bookstore shelves, on the Internet, and even more magic tonics and pills being advertised, it’s hard to know what you can trust. There are low fat diets, low carb diets, diets where you hardly eat anything, and diets where you never have to give up your favorite foods. It really can be confusing. Since low fat diets are so popular, I thought I’d go over some tips about them, and what to look for in a legitimate low fat diet.
Low fat diets are actually recommended quite frequently by doctors, dieticians, and nutritionists for the health benefits. In fact, what some people may consider a low fat diet, may be just following the regular guidelines. Did you know that only 30% of your calories should come from fat? There are also a wide number of health disorders that can be avoided by limiting your fat intake, such as gallbladder disease, gastroparesis, fatty liver disorder, malabsorption of nutrients, and even diarrhea.
For those switching to a diet lower in fat, there are simple substitutions that you can make in your everyday meals. Buy skim milk instead of whole milk, eat whole grain breads instead of white bread or sweet rolls, and opt for fresh or steamed veggies instead of fried veggies or ones dipped in cheese or cream.
There are many low fat diets out there, but the one you choose should be reviewed by your doctor before you begin to make any major adjustments to your food intake. Going to extremes may cause more harm than good.