Low Fat
Healthy eating is all about having a balanced diet. Dieticians generally recommend that eating the right balance of foods from the three major food groups: carbohydrates, proteins and fats, is the best way to stay healthy.
There is a lot of concern about the amount of fat in our diets, as it is well known that high levels of saturated fat is damaging to health and can lead to such complications as increased blood cholesterol levels and a greater risk of heart disease.
A diet high in fat is also cited as the main cause of obesity. It is increasingly evident in the UK that many of us eat far too much fat and should try to manage our intake. Recent reports suggest that around 1 in 5 adults are obese in the UK, and more alarmingly, the prevalence of obesity in children has significantly increased in the last few years.
As well as cutting down on fat intake, it is suggested that we should try to eat mainly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and reduce our intake of saturated fat.
In the UK, for a product to claim that it is 'low fat' it must contain no more than 3g of fat per 100g for solids or 1.5g per 100ml for liquids. Similarly for a product to claim that is low in saturated fat then it must contain no more than 1.5g of saturated fat per 100g for solids or 0.75g per 100ml for liquids and 10% of energy.
Although there is a lot of attention surrounding the amount of fat in our diets, dietary fat is essential for our bodies, as it supplies energy and helps the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as A, D, E, and K. Some fats are necessary in the diet, in that the body can't produce them and it is recommended that young children should not follow a low fat diet for these reasons.
Eating low fat foods can be used to manage a low fat diet. Kallo has a number of products that are low in fat or contain much less fat that other similar types of products on the market.
If you, or a member of your family plan to limit fats in your diet, please take a sensible approach and if in doubt consult your GP or a dietician for professional advice on the best way to manage your diet.