Going Low-Fat: Lowering Your Fat Intake

Your doctor or other health professional may have recommended a low-fat eating plan for any of a variety of reasons. The good news about eating low fat is that it's fun to learn, simple to do, and likely to improve your health. Here are some of the positive results you can expect from lowering your fat intake:

1. Improved insulin sensitivity, which can decrease the risk of developing diabetes, or improved blood sugar control in those who have diabetes
2. Decreased risk of cancer and a better chance of survival if you have been diagnosed
3. Decreased risk of heart disease and stroke and improved management-even possible reversal-of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), for those who have it
4. A decreased risk of Alzheimer's disease
5. Improved weight loss or easier weight maintenance, because fat packs a lot more calories than carbohydrate, gram for gram

1 gram of fat = 9 calories
1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories

"Low Fat" Defined

Low-fat diets typically get 10 to 15 percent of calories from fat. This means that most foods chosen need to contain either no fat or very small amounts.