Often times when people are told that they need to change
their eating habits they think of it as a unpalatable concept. Many people feel
that choosing to eat healthier will mean sacrificing taste for health and that
is far from the truth. I think before
cutting out foods from your diet you should find out why you are giving up
certain foods and what makes them unhealthy. This will help you to not have the
same burning desire to consume those items. One thing for sure is that “The fat
you eat is the fat you wear”. The problem with most foods that are unhealthy for
us are that they are drenched in oil and saturated fats. Sticking to foods baked, steamed, or grilled
are much healthier and often more flavorful. For example, if you go to your
favorite fast food restaurant and order some French fries, for one they
probably aren’t real potatoes, and two they are soaked in unhealthy fat and
then coated in salt. The problem with
this is that too much fat will lead to heart disease, or diabetes. Also, all
that salt will probably cause high blood pressure or a stroke. The healthier
choice would be to buy some raw potatoes from the store and cut and bake them
with a small amount of olive oil and your favorite herbs and spices. Choosing to do this may take longer than just
going around the drive- thru but you will feel better and your body will be
healthier. Another problem with fast
foods is the amount of cholesterol. All products that come from animals contain
cholesterol. Bad cholesterol is not found in raw fruits and vegetables. We as a society need to be more conscience of
the foods we consume and realize that convenience is not always healthful.
Dairy Products
|
Portion
|
Cholesterol (mg)
|
Total Fat (g)
|
Saturated Fat (g)
|
Milk (non-fat)
|
1 cup
|
4
|
0
|
0
|
Milk (low-fat)
|
1 cup
|
10
|
3
|
2
|
Milk (whole)
|
1 cup
|
33
|
8
|
5
|
Yogurt (non-fat)
|
1 cup
|
10
|
0
|
0
|
Yogurt (whole)
|
1 cup
|
29
|
7
|
5
|
Cheddar Cheese
|
1 oz
|
30
|
9
|
6
|
Cottage Cheese (low-fat)
|
1 cup
|
10
|
2
|
2
|
Fats
|
Portion
|
Cholesterol (mg)
|
Total Fat (g)
|
Saturated Fat (g)
|
Butter
|
1 tsp
|
11
|
4
|
3
|
Margarine
|
1 tsp
|
0
|
4
|
1
|
Vegetable
Oils
|
1 tsp
|
0
|
5
|
1 - 2
|
Meats & Protein
|
Portion
|
Cholesterol (mg)
|
Total Fat (g)
|
Saturated Fat (g)
|
Tofu
|
1/2 cup
|
0
|
11
|
2
|
Pinto beans
|
1/2 cup
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
Egg
|
1
|
212
|
5
|
2
|
Halibut
|
3 ½ oz
|
41
|
3
|
0
|
Salmon
|
3 ½ oz
|
63
|
12
|
2
|
Oysters
|
3 ½ oz
|
55
|
2
|
1
|
Crab
|
3 ½ oz
|
52
|
1
|
0
|
Lobster
|
3 ½ oz
|
71
|
1
|
0
|
Tuna (in water)
|
3 ½ oz
|
30
|
1
|
0
|
Shrimp
|
3 ½ oz
|
194
|
1
|
0
|
Squid
|
3 ½ oz
|
231
|
1
|
0
|
Beef (ground,
lean)
|
3 ½ oz
|
78
|
18
|
7
|
Beef (short ribs)
|
3 ½ oz
|
94
|
42
|
18
|
Beef (sirloin)
|
3 ½ oz
|
89
|
12
|
5
|
Beef Liver
|
3 ½ oz
|
389
|
5
|
2
|
Veal (top round)
|
3 ½ oz
|
135
|
5
|
2
|
Lamb (foreshank)
|
3 ½ oz
|
106
|
14
|
6
|
Ham
|
3 ½ oz
|
53
|
6
|
2
|
Pork (tenderloin)
|
3 ½ oz
|
79
|
6
|
2
|
Pork (chop)
|
3 ½ oz
|
85
|
25
|
10
|
Chicken Liver
|
3 ½ oz
|
631
|
6
|
2
|
Chicken (no skin)
|
3 ½ oz
|
85
|
5
|
1
|
Works Cited
"Cholesterol Content of Foods." UCSF Medical Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
"The McDougall Newsletter - The Fat Vegan." The McDougall Newsletter - The Fat Vegan. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.
