People unsure on fats

evidence suggests it doesn’t and in some cases it can actually enhance weight loss. Some dairy foods, like yoghurt or cheese, actually indicate a reduced risk of Type 2 diabetes. “Indeed, some of the studies show a reduced risk of stroke, particularly associated with cheese and milk.” But according to a recent survey by the National Osteoporosis Society, one fifth of under-25s are completely cutting out dairy from their diets, often due to concerns that it is fattening. The worry is that this results in calcium deficiency and could damage bone strength. But the most dangerous type of fat – trans fat – has been linked WE know that faddy yo-yo diets don’t work, that cutting out food groups can damage your health, and that the Mediterranean diet is the way forward. So, can fat be healthy? Yes, but it’s the fat found in natural foods like oily fish, eggs and avocado, with a little bit of dairy thrown in the mix. Beware of food containing fat, sugar and salt – particularly too much saturated fat – which can cause weight gain and can lead to heart disease.

My rules are: keep it simple, remember portion control and a little bit of what you fancy can at times do you good. to a substantial increase in the risk of heart disease. Unlike other countries, the UK has not banned trans fats, since the nation’s average consumption is low. But some independent restaurants and takeaways still use oils with substantial amounts of trans fats to fry food.

Tower Hamlets in East London has one of the most intense concentrations of takeaways in the country – nearly 400 in eight square miles. It also has some of the highest rates of heart disease in the UK.

The council inspected seven independent takeaways and found very high levels of trans fats in nearly half of the chips tested. It said that certain population groups are exceeding the UK’S dietary limit on trans fats “on a day-today basis” and called for a ban.

But the amount of food you eat – healthy or not – has a huge impact on your weight. In 2013, the British Heart Foundation found that most portion sizes have ballooned in the past 20 years.

Nichola’s advice is not to ditch the diary, but be wary. She says: “If you’re filling a third of your plate with green vegetables or salad, a third with carbohydrates such as pasta, potatoes, and a third with proteins such as meat, fish, lentils, then you’ve got a really balanced plate. On top of it, you could add some healthy fats like half an avocado or some feta cheese or a little bit of olive oil.

“When it comes to weight loss, though, you might want to up the vegetables and salad and down the other two portions just a little bit.”

So, the best advice seems to be everything in moderation. Fad diets don’t work but making sensible choices and keeping an eye on your portion sizes is the key to a healthier you.

Tonight – Fat: The Healthy Option? is on ITV at 7.30pm this evening.

Star lost five stone CATH headed to Bury Market in Lancashire to find out what the public knows about good and bad fats. She asked shoppers what they thought had the highest fat content – a chocolate bar, some yoghurt-covered flakes or an...