
Low-Fat Foods
Can Help Lower Fat IntakeBy Judy McBride October 1, 2001Switching to foods that are lower in
fat--such as lean meats, low-fat desserts or skim milk--can help cut your fat
intake to the recommended 30 percent of total calories or less. But you need to
watch your fat intake from other foods as well, an
Agricultural Research Service study
shows. ARS nutritionist Shanthy Bowman and colleagues analyzed data from the 1996
USDA nationwide food consumption survey to
determine the impact of low-fat foods on total fat intake. For comparison, they
divided a sample of 1,731 adults into two groups--those who met the recommended
fat intake and those who exceeded it. While the majority of adults who exceeded the fat recommendation either
didnt consume low-fat foods on the survey day or ate only one or two,
some of them ate three or more such foods. They simply got too many calories
from fat in their total diet. Among the group that met the recommended fat intake, a larger percentage
consumed low-fat foods, showing that these foods can be helpful in reducing fat
intake. One doesnt have to make many low-fat substitutions, according to
Bowman. Just one or two will do, as long as people dont add the fat back
with other food choices, such as regular milk or cheese, untrimmed meats or
high-fat dressings and spreads. Naturally low-fat fruits and vegetables are
good choices because they are packed with fiber and nutrients. The analysis also showed that consuming low-fat foods was associated with a
more varied and nutritious diet among both groups. Men and women who chose
low-fat foods--especially those who ate three or more daily--got more vitamin
A, carotene, folate, calcium and iron than those who didnt. Nonusers of
low-fat foods tended to substitute carbohydrates and carbonated sodas to
replace fat. Not surprisingly, the men and women who met the recommended fat intake
consumed fewer calories than those who exceeded it--400 to 500 less calories on
average. And their body mass index (BMI) tended to be lower, especially among
the women. ARS is the chief scientific agency in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Bowman works in Beltsville, Md., at the ARS
Community Nutrition Research
Group. U.S. Department of Agriculture |