Knowledge of Dietary Fats is Lacking

An article in the April issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association examines the knowledge of dietary fats among U.S. consumers.  According to this new article, it appears that our knowledge is lacking.

This new study uses data collected from nearly 1,800 people who participated in the U.S. FDA Health and Diet Survey to assess their awareness and understanding of six different dietary fats.  The results of this study were rather disconcerting:

• Nearly all of the study participants were aware of saturated fat and most understood that it increases the risk for poor heart health.
• Less than 70% of the study population had heard of trans fat and partially hydrogenated oil and of those, less than half understood that these fats are unhealthy fats.
• Only half of the people who had heard of omega-3 fatty acids knew that this was a healthy fat that lowers the risk of poor heart health.
• Only a very small percentage of the study group recognized polyunsaturated fat as a heart healthy fat.

The results from this study dramatically shows our general lack of knowledge about dietary fats and emphasizes the need for a better way to spread the message about healthy and unhealthy fats.  Getting the message out could be done in a number of ways including improved food labeling, more media coverage related to proper diet and nutrition, and increased access to nutrition research.  Public access to nutrition (and other) research is growing.  For example, all of the journals in My Favorite Journals on this blog's sidebar are open to the general public and free to read.

Limiting the amount of unhealthy fats in one's diet is a great way to start eating healthier.  Another way to start eating healthier is to follow my easy plan... all of my Slim and Beautiful Shakes are low in total fat, making them a delicious way to limit the amount of unhealthy fats consumed.