Grassi saturi

Coconut oil was once damned by health authorities for being a saturated fat. But research over the past decade has discounted the notion that saturated fat causes heart disease, and coconut oil—a textbook example of a healthy saturated fat—is having

A new study exonerates dairy fats as a cause of early death, even as low-fat products continue to be misperceived as healthier.

If you’ve ever been on the internet, you’ve noticed that some things are popular, and other things aren’t. The popular ones have something in common. It’s not quality, or importance, or accuracy, but novelty. An example of this is Moby-Dick. It’s a t

Show of hands: who began 2021 aiming to eat better than they did in 2020? In theory, it shouldn’t be too hard given how 2020 turned out. Indeed, the Covid Kai Survey, in which the eating behaviour of more than 3000 people was analysed during the seve

1 LOW-FAT OR FULL-FAT DAIRY? For people who have high cholesterol or heart disease, low-fat dairy products are often recommended. Low-fat dairy products contain fewer kilojoules than full-fat varieties, but keep an eye on sugar content, too, especial

Question: I love avocados and know they contain good oils. But should we limit how many we eat? Answer: Avocados are a delicious, nutritious food, though not without their risks, judging by the number of avocado-related knife injuries. Curiously, the

Many of us are guilty of slathering a slice of toast with butter or indulging in a cheeseboard, and with the holidays fast approaching, it can feel harder than ever to make smart choices. Foods high in saturated fat increase cholesterol, leading to a

Many common foods irritate the prostate and can contribute to a rise in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and an enlarged prostate. They include foods containing acrylamide (hot chips and packaged potato chips), foods rich in saturated fats, exc

The key to losing weight has been debated for years. Should we go low carb, low protein or low sugar? Research published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism suggests that weight gain is linked specifically to dietary fat levels, not to protein

Here’s what you need to know to work out the best spread for you — and your choice may be influenced by how you‘ll use it. Many margarine spreads are made from liquid vegetable oils. They can often include sunflower (polyunsaturated fat) or canola (

1 Use extra-virgin olive oil in place of margarine. 2 Keep your saturated fat intake low. 3 Limit intake of processed meat. 4 Check your vitamin D levels are in normal range. 5 Keep your alcohol intake to a minimum. 6 Aim to exercise daily for a

Q For years, we’ve been taught to fear fat, and that fat will make us unhealthy. Is this still the case? Nutrition science is undergoing a seismic shift. Whereas it once focused mainly on nutrients, it has now become much more food-focused. The sim

High in protein and low in saturated fat, tofu is an excellent source of immune-boosting selenium – this, along with the vitamin E in sesame oil, helps to protect against cancer. Sesame oil is rich in healthy unsaturated fats and also a useful non-da

You already know that trans fat is a diet no-no, but should you also avoid saturated fats? “The science around these fats is mixed, but most experts recommend you get no more than 10% of your total daily calories from them,” says McDaniel. Well-estab

With eggs, it’s more about how you cook them and what you eat them with, rather than the egg itself, which increases your risk of high cholesterol. For example, the fat you cook them in and the bacon and sausages you might add to the meal, will be fu

Swap animal fats, palm and coconut oil for unsaturated fats, such as rapeseed, olive or sunflower oils, nuts, seeds and oily fish. Healthier options include nuts instead of crisps, and low-fat milk and vegetable spreads instead of butter. For lower-

Cholesterol, which is produced in the liver, has many essential functions. It’s necessary for the production of certain hormones and keeps the walls of your cells flexible. However, too much cholesterol can be dangerous to your health. Fortunately, t

What’s the difference between coriander and parsley? A Although coriander and parsley look similar, they are very different herbs. Nutrition-wise, they are both rich in vitamins A, C and K. Both herbs have also been found to be beneficial for stabi

It seems with every passing year there is new advice about what is healthy to eat, and what is not. Some of this advice comes from well-intentioned but unqualified people promoting the latest fad diet. These fad diets are usually based on the results

From the chowing down of five portions of fruit and veg a day rule, to walking laps around your printer in order to meet your daily 10 000 steps target, there are certain health commandments that we’ve long taken as gospel. But what if we told that m

It’s that time of year when we worry about succumbing to a winter diet of comfort food. While quick fixes and miracle diets promising easy weight loss may be enticing, with promises of hope and happiness, fad diets are impossible to maintain. Even if

They have been a well-loved food for thousands of years. And what a world of texture and flavour they bring to just about every global cuisine, especially Mediterranean food. Nuts make nutritious snacks, providing healthy oils, dietary fibre, vitamin

BEST FOR: Heating up While everyone’s favourite brekkie staple has been widely studied, there’s limited human research on its oil and the potential health effects of consuming it. But the nutritional properties are pretty impressive (a high level of

You’re probably already familiar with the usual heart-healthy fare of low-mercury fresh fish, omega-3 supplements and unsaturated fats such as olive oil. But there’s even more you can do for keeping your cardiovascular system clean-running and effici