Avocados and Good Fats
By Cheryl Forberg
We love reading diet books, almost as much as we love eating. High fiber, low fat, low carb and sugar-busting diets abound.
Though they’re not always based on solid science, we seem to learn valuable lessons from each passing craze. Case in point is the fat-free trend that took the country by storm (and almost didn’t go away). There's no doubt, fat is rich in calories. Gram for gram, fat has more than twice as many calories as carbohydrates and protein. And it's true - some fats simply aren't good for you. Trans fats are found in fried foods and processed foods (as well as in some meat products). They are unhealthy because they raise levels of unhealthy cholesterol (LDL) and decrease the level of healthy cholesterol (HDL) in our bodies.
Other fats cause problems too. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. These include the skin on chicken or turkey and the visible fat on a steak. Saturated animal fat also contains cholesterol and promotes heart disease. We definitely need to limit the amount of saturated fat in our diet. But some fats are good -- our bodies require them. One of the unintended but positive consequences of the fat-free fat-phobic madness is that we’ve finally learned the importance of good fat -- in a balanced diet.
Fat provides a satisfying texture and mouth-feel. It also promotes satiety or fullness. Having a few nuts with a piece of fruit, or spreading a slice of avocado onto a sandwich (instead of mayonnaise) are delicious ways to help increase the feeling of fullness while delivering valuable health benefits. And if you’re watching your weight, good fats allow you to feel less deprived too. Omega 3's are an essential good fat (meaning our body doesn't produce them -- it's essential that we get them from our diet). Every cell in our body uses omega 3s -- they promote heart health and help improve brain function. They're found in cold-water fish such as salmon and in plant foods such as flax seed.
Other perks of good fats include:
Here are suggested serving sizes and calories for some delicious healthy fats:
This creamy dressing is a scrumptious way to dress up a sandwich or add pizzazz to sliced tomatoes.
Makes 20 (2-tablespoon) servings (1-1/4 cups)
Ingredients:
1 medium Hass Avocado
1/2 cup (about 5 ounces) Mori Nu Soft Silken Tofu
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Add the avocado, tofu, water, lime juice, garlic, mustard, chili powder and salt to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Stir in the cilantro. Add a tablespoon or two of water if you desire a thinner dressing.
Nutrient Analysis – per serving
Calories 20
Fat Calories 15
Total Fat 1.5g
Sat. Fat 0g
Cholest. 0mg
Sodium 65mg
Total Carbs. 1g
Fiber 1g
Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A IUs 2%
Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 0%
Iron 0%
We love reading diet books, almost as much as we love eating. High fiber, low fat, low carb and sugar-busting diets abound.
Though they’re not always based on solid science, we seem to learn valuable lessons from each passing craze. Case in point is the fat-free trend that took the country by storm (and almost didn’t go away). There's no doubt, fat is rich in calories. Gram for gram, fat has more than twice as many calories as carbohydrates and protein. And it's true - some fats simply aren't good for you. Trans fats are found in fried foods and processed foods (as well as in some meat products). They are unhealthy because they raise levels of unhealthy cholesterol (LDL) and decrease the level of healthy cholesterol (HDL) in our bodies.
Other fats cause problems too. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature. These include the skin on chicken or turkey and the visible fat on a steak. Saturated animal fat also contains cholesterol and promotes heart disease. We definitely need to limit the amount of saturated fat in our diet. But some fats are good -- our bodies require them. One of the unintended but positive consequences of the fat-free fat-phobic madness is that we’ve finally learned the importance of good fat -- in a balanced diet.
Fat provides a satisfying texture and mouth-feel. It also promotes satiety or fullness. Having a few nuts with a piece of fruit, or spreading a slice of avocado onto a sandwich (instead of mayonnaise) are delicious ways to help increase the feeling of fullness while delivering valuable health benefits. And if you’re watching your weight, good fats allow you to feel less deprived too. Omega 3's are an essential good fat (meaning our body doesn't produce them -- it's essential that we get them from our diet). Every cell in our body uses omega 3s -- they promote heart health and help improve brain function. They're found in cold-water fish such as salmon and in plant foods such as flax seed.
Other perks of good fats include:
- Help increase our body's absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as Vitamins D, E, A and K and powerful antioxidants such as lycopene
- Lutein found in avocados is stored in the macula of the eye and helps promote eye health and decrease our risk for macular degeneration
- Vitamin E found in nuts, seeds, olives and avocados helps promote heart health
- Good fats help promote healthy hair and softer skin (and softer skin minimizes the appearance of fine lines!)
Here are suggested serving sizes and calories for some delicious healthy fats:
- Avocado 3 slices/one ounce 50 calories
- Almonds 10 raw almonds 75 calories
- Walnuts 1 1/2 tablespoons (chopped) 70 calories
- Lox or smoked salmon 2 ounces 75 calories
This creamy dressing is a scrumptious way to dress up a sandwich or add pizzazz to sliced tomatoes.
Makes 20 (2-tablespoon) servings (1-1/4 cups)
Ingredients:
1 medium Hass Avocado
1/2 cup (about 5 ounces) Mori Nu Soft Silken Tofu
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1-1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
Add the avocado, tofu, water, lime juice, garlic, mustard, chili powder and salt to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Stir in the cilantro. Add a tablespoon or two of water if you desire a thinner dressing.
Nutrient Analysis – per serving
Calories 20
Fat Calories 15
Total Fat 1.5g
Sat. Fat 0g
Cholest. 0mg
Sodium 65mg
Total Carbs. 1g
Fiber 1g
Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin A IUs 2%
Vitamin C 2%
Calcium 0%
Iron 0%
