Page 50 - Harnett Life Spring 2018

A Nutrition Decision – By Janice Fields,
Extension Family and Consumer
Swap Your Fats Sciences Agent

Back in my high school teaching days, I developed some to swap some (or all) of your solid fats for liquid oils, and
very unhealthy eating habits. Before driving to school enjoy the health benefits.
most mornings, I would stop at a local fast-food busi-
ness and order a fat-laden sausage or bacon biscuit with a How do you know which foods or fats are the best choic-
large sweet tea. That bad habit, and others, led to pounds es? What we know about nutrition has changed over the
steadily creeping upwards on the scale. As my waistline years. Based on the current research, here’s what we know
expanded, I decided to change and began weaning myself for sure: replacing saturated fat with refined carbohydrates
off sweet tea by making it at home with less sugar. That does not decrease risk of chronic diseases like heart dis-
decision was the beginning of many other personal health ease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes and consuming a low-fat
changes. If only I knew then what I know now. diet is not associated with a decreased risk of chronic dis-
ease, nor is it associated with lower weight. During our
We make over 200 food decisions every day. Eating low-fat craze, risk of chronic diseases continued to rise.
healthy can become overwhelming unless you take it We replaced the fats in salad dressings with sugar, starch,
one step at a time. Start small with a habit you can stick and salt. We ate fat-free pretzels that were made of refined
with. For example, if you cannot give up butter com- flour and salt. We replaced fat calories with carbohydrate
pletely, use less and add olive oil. Like I did with sugar calories and put our nation at an all-time high risk of chron-
in my tea, wean yourself off solid fats and replace them ic disease. It did not improve our health. The fat-free craze
with healthier ones. Let your next nutrition decision be is, and should be, a thing of the past.

Page 50 Harnett Life ~ Spring 2018