Not All Fats Are Created Equal

"Fat" might have a bad reputation among many health-conscious eaters, but certain types of fat are essential to a well-balanced, heart-healthy diet.

"There are some fatty acids that the body does not make that we must get from the foods we eat," says Dr. Rebecca Reeves, a registered dietitian with Baylor College of Medicine's Behavioral Medicine Research Center.

Dr. Reeves recommends that no more than 30 percent of daily calories come from fat, with saturated fat making up 10 percent or less of the total. As a whole, dietary fat is important for proper growth and development. It carries the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, and aids in their absorption in the intestine.

"A person needs to be aware of where the fat in their diet is coming from, reduce saturated fat intake and choose more polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat," Dr. Reeves says.

- From Baylor College of Medicine

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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