Myth: All fat is bad for you
We all know that eating too much saturated fat can lead to increased cholesterol levels in the body, which has an adverse effect of heart health. Trans fats can also raise cholesterol levels and it's advisable to avoid foods that are high in these fats - such as fast food, takeaways and biscuits.
Truth: Some fats can be good
The truth of the matter is that some fats are actually good for you. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat are both considered to be 'good' fats. Monounsaturated fat is found in foods such as avocado, olive oil and some spreads, rapeseed oil, nuts and nut spreads. Polyunsaturated fat is found in vegetable oils such as sunflower, corn, safflower oil and some spreads. It can also be found in flaxseeds and flaxseed oil, rapeseed oil, walnuts and green leafy vegetables. Oily fish such as mackerel, trout, salmon, sardines and herrings are also rich sources of polyunsaturated fat.
Myth: 'Lighter' products are always better for you
As a general rule of thumb, the harder the fat is at room temperature, the more saturated fat it contains, e.g. lard, butter and cheese. So try to ensure you don't eat too much. Even 'lighter' spreadable butters have at least 60% more saturated fat than Flora Light spread, which is low in saturated fat and is still a rich source of essential fatty acids.
Myth: Using butter won’t do me any harm
Butter is high in saturated fat – and in the UK we eat more saturated fat than is good for us. The amount of butter normally spread on 2-3 slices of bread (20g) contains approximately 10g or saturated fat – that's the same amount you’d find in 5 rashers of streaky bacon!
Myth: Only older people need to thing about heart health.
If you eat too much of the 'bad' fat, you can produce more cholesterol than your body needs. Cholesterol is a fat that is made by our body. We need it for our body to work properly and also to make certain vitamins and hormones. If we have too much cholesterol in the body it can build up in the arteries around the heart and can affect our heart health. Experts believe this can happen in children from as young as two years old.
And now for the good news
The great news is that Flora spreads contain essential polyunsaturated fats, are low in saturates and are virtually trans fat free, so you can feel good about what you spread on your bread!
