15 Weight-Loss Facts You Always Get Wrong

Can saturated fat actually be healthy?

For a long time, scientists believed saturated fat—the kind found in meat, full-fat cheese, butter, cow’s milk, ice cream, and palm and coconut oils—was a major cause of heart disease. But that belief has undergone a seismic shift recently.

The current thinking is that saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol, which is bad for your heart. But it also seems to raise HDL cholesterol and lower triglycerides, which is good for your heart. In effect, current research shows that saturated fat can have both a positive and negative impact on heart health.

Bottom line: Whether saturated fat is a better choice really comes down to what you’re comparing it to. When people replace saturated fat with healthier unsaturated fats (found in fish, nuts, olive oil, avocado, and the like) it benefits their heart health. But if they replace them with simple carbohydrates, trans fats, and other unhealthful foods, it’s harmful. Think of it this way: you’re better off eating salmon (rich in unsaturated fat) than steak (which contains saturated fat). But you’re better off eating steak than fried chicken that’s breaded and cooked in shortening full of trans fats. Here are 12 more little weight-loss tricks only nutritionists know.

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