Now that you're tracking all your foods, you might be surprised to discover the calorie and fat content of some of your favorite foods. But fat is no longer the demon that plagued the nutrition world. In fact, certain fats are essential to a healthy diet.
However, fat still contains more calories per gram than carbohydrates and protein, so balancing your macronutrients is important.
Below
are five foods that are full of healthy fats. That doesn't make them
bad, though! It simply means that you should be aware of their
nutritional value and adjust the day's menu accordingly so that all your
macros come out balanced.
1. Whole-Milk Yogurt
If you’re not careful, your yogurt
may have more sugar than dessert! Sugars are often added to make up for
the lack of fat in low-fat yogurts. As a result, whole-milk yogurt (and
other dairy) is gaining in popularity.
Research from a large study published in 2014
in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism, and Cardiovascular Diseases found
that those who consumed full-fat yogurt were less likely to be
overweight. Look for a high-protein yogurt, such as Greek or skyr,
that's also low in sugar.
2. Nut Butters
Nut butters — like almond, peanut and cashew
butters — are notoriously high in fat. A two-tablespoon serving adds
about 14 grams of fat to your daily diet. But don't ban the kid-friendly
favorite from your diet just yet.
A 2015 article
published in Journal of Food Science and Technology sang the praises of
nut butters, citing their protective effect against some chronic
diseases, such as coronary heart disease and diabetes. So try adding
almond butter to a smoothie for a protein boost or using peanut butter
in place of cream cheese on a bagel.
3. Avocados
Avocados
have recently reached a pinnacle in their reign as a superfood — and
rightly so! Because of their fat (monounsaturated fat — the same type
you'll find in olive oil) and fiber content, avocados may help control
weight by increasing your feelings of fullness and help you feel more
satisfied after a meal. Try adding smashed avocado to your morning toast or in your smoothie for a nice, creamy texture.
4. Whole Eggs
Are you still ordering egg white omelets? Even though the yolk holds all the fat,
it also holds almost all the nutritional benefits. With about five
grams of fat per egg, you also get six grams of protein, iron and zinc —
and no sugar!
Current
research suggests that eating one to two eggs per day, when combined
with a balanced diet, is find for people who are already generally
healthy. If you want to add volume without adding calories, go for a
ratio of two egg whites to one whole egg.
5. Fatty Fish
A single serving of fatty fish, like salmon,
provides almost 370 calories and more than 22 grams of fat. But don’t
let the numbers scare you. Those 370 calories also come with almost 40
grams of protein and B vitamins. And almost all the fat is from omega-3 fatty acids, which may be lacking in your diet.
Plus, the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health agrees with recent research, indicating that one to two servings of fatty fish (salmon, herring, mackerel, anchovies, or sardines) each week may be beneficial for long-term health.
Comments
Post a Comment