If people knew the potential consequences of a diet too high in saturated fat, they may be persuaded to eat more healthily.
Dietary saturated fats can raise cholesterol levels which can ultimately be a high risk factor for heart and circulatory diseases. These disease states include coronary heart disease, heart attacks, angina and strokes or CVD – the most common cause of death in the UK (www.heartstats.org.uk BHF 2009). Cholesterol is the waxy substance that can clog arteries causing pressure from the circulating blood to increase. This in turn puts added pressure on the heart and can cause blood vessels to burst. When this happens in the brain, it causes a stroke (see below picture).
Diet is a key risk factor in heart disease. A reduction in saturated fat intake may prevent up to 3,500 early and unnecessary deaths a year in the UK (FSA, 2007).
Top 5 contributors of saturated fat in the UK diet
These foods are the top contributors of saturated fat in the UK diet, in order of daily uptake:
- dairy products including cheese, milk, butter and yogurt
- meat and meat products including meat pies, pastries and burgers
- fat spreads including butter
- biscuits, buns and cakes
- lastly, but by no means least, chocolate confectionary.
Many of these foods are still important to eat as part of a healthy diet, but moderation is the key!
Until Next Time.Stay Healthy,
John K Russell
Personal Training Cheltenham
Personal Training Gloucester
www.nomoregym.co.uk
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