Trimming the Fat

Diets high in fat have been shown to increase the risk of cancers of the breast, colon and prostate. Although a diet high in fat does not cause cancer, it may promote the development of cancer in people who are exposed to cancer causing agents. It also may change the characteristics of the cells so that they may become more susceptible to cancer causing agents. A high fat diet may also support the secretion of certain hormones that in return cause a favorable environment for certain types of cancer.

There is also a link between high fat diets and heart disease. Eating too much saturated fat is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. A high saturated fat diet can lead to cholesterol build up in your arteries which lead to increased pressure and strain on your heart. Due to the high calorie content (9 calories per gram), consuming too much fat can also lead to obesity which is another risk factor for heart disease.

Fiber is essential in every diet. Soluble fiber binds fats such as cholesterol and carries them out of the body through stool. This lowers the concentration of fat in the blood and may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

To reduce the amount of fat in your diet:

Choose baked, broiled, or grilled meat instead of fried
Choose skim milk instead of 2% along with low fat or fat free salad dressings
Limit donuts, cookies, and other desserts
Eat fruit or jello for dessert
Watch what you eat for breakfast, sausage and bacon have high fat content
Try whole wheat toast and high fiber cereals for breakfast instead of always
eating a hot breakfast (sausage, bacon, pancakes, etc)
Try choosing the marinara sauce over the alfredo at the pasta bar to help cut down on fat intake
Limit the amount of margarine or butter you use
Try jelly on your toast and skip the butter on your side items
Skip the mayonnaise on your sandwich
Try oil and vinegar instead
Avoid foods made with coconut and palm oil
Read labels of processed food to determine ingredients
Limit the amount of full fat cheese in your diet
Our pizza is made with part skim milk mozzarella in order to help reduce fat consumption
Choose the grilled chicken breast or a veggie burger at the Grille for a healthy meal option
Choose skim milk at Java in order to reduce fat grams

DSU

Trimming the Fat