How much fat are you stowing away? Look at the following sample daily menus for
fat content that the average American consumes:
Fat content
Calories
Breakfast:
One-half grapefruit
70
Two eggs
12 grams
150
Two slices of bread
130
Two pats of butter
12 grams
120
One cup of coffee with cream and sugar
3 grams
100
Lunch:
Boiled ham, 2 slices
20 grams
200
Two slices of bread
130
Two pats of butter
12 grams
120
Lettuce and tomato
30
Mayonnaise, 2 teaspoonfuls
6 grams
60
Cup of coffee with cream and sugar
3 grams
100
Danish bun, prune filled
8 grams
150
Dinner:
Melon slice
20
Steak or beef with gravy, 4 ounces
40 grams
500
Potato and peas
100
Two pats of butter (or oil dressings)
12 grams
120
Cup of coffee with cream and sugar
3 grams
100
Ice cream
12 grams
250
Cherry pie
12 grams
350
Total fat for the day
155 grams
Total cholesterol
800 milligrams
Total calories for the day
2800
Total calories in fat
1400
How much fat can you really live with? In contrast, compare
the menus used on the low-fat diet: On the one hand, the total calorie content
of a typical American daily diet is about 2800 calories, of which almost 50
per cent is fat. The low-fat diet provides approximately 1800 calories (1000
calories less) the low-fat diet to lose weight provides 1200 or 1000 or 800
calories. Here the fat content is about 15 per cent of the total dietary calorie
content and is the amount found in the diets of millions of non-Americans who
are virtually free of atherosclerosis or heart attacks and strokes. What a clear-cut
and simple choice is given us for better health and longer life!
The question may still arise, "Isn't fat necessary for normal health and
nutrition?" As mentioned previously, the need for fat in humans has never
been proven, although certain essential fatty acids contained in some vegetable
oils are very valuable for keeping the blood fats lowered.
