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Weekend treats such as pizza or fried take-aways can lead to huge intakes of saturated fat. But we can act to curb excessive fat intake.
'Sat faturdays'
For many of us, weekends are a time to relax and indulge. Trouble is, we may have little idea that eating those 'weekend treats' could be leading to a massive intake of saturated fat (sat fat), which can pose a serious health risk.
For example, a simple weekend fried breakfast feast can alone amount to two or even three times the recommended maximum daily sat fat guidelines (30g for men; 20g for women).
Recognise the risks
High sat fat consumption can be risky because it raises blood cholesterol, which is a risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD).
If you have more cholesterol than your body needs it can cause the build up of fatty deposits in your arteries and lead to heart problems. That's why it's believed that up to 30% of deaths from CHD are due to unhealthy diets.
The culprits
Prime sat fat culprits on the menu include doughnuts, burgers, fried food, French fries, potato chips, dairy products, high fat cream sauces and dressings, cakes, sweet popcorn, processed foods such as confectionery, sweet pastries and ready meals.
Simple solutions
You can reduce your intake of sat fat by making a few simple substitutions in your diet:
- Swap butter, which is high in saturated fat, with small amounts of Flora, a healthy margarine, which is lower in saturated fat.
- Grill, poach or steam your food instead of frying it.
- Eat more fruit and vegetables, as well as whole grains and pulses.
- Trim the fat from bacon and other meats before cooking.
- Choose fruit, raw vegetables or low fat cookies as an alternative to high-fat Danish pastries.
Enjoy the weekend with Flora
Flora spreads can help maintain a healthy diet, as they have up to 70% less saturated fats than butter and are rich in folic acid, vitamins B6 and B12 and contain vitamins A, D and E.
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