Fats, Cholesterol and Your Health
There is growing evidence to show that dietary cholesterol is not a health concern for most people. It's the type of fat in your diet that has the greatest impact on your heart health.
Why do we need fat?
You have to include some fat in your diet to support cell growth and provide energy for your body. Fat also helps your body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. The concern is that many people eat far more fat than they really need. According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, a healthy diet should include no more than 20% to 35% of total calories from fat6, yet more than a quarter of Canadian adults regularly exceed this recommendation.7
The fat - cholesterol connection
There is a very close connection between your cholesterol levels and the type of fat in your diet. Certain types of fats are healthy for you because they help to improve your cholesterol levels. But a diet high in unhealthy fats, like saturated and trans fats, can be very harmful. These unhealthy fats raise the amount of "bad" cholesterol in your blood and increase your risk of heart disease.
Choose healthy fats more often
When it comes to fats, it's all about making the right choices. Reducing the amount of unhealthy fat in your diet and replacing it with healthier types of fat is an important step in managing your cholesterol levels. Eggs are an excellent choice for a healthy diet because they are low in saturated fat and contain no trans fats.