Fats are essential to give our dishes the rich flavour and taste we hunger for. But excess fat can raise LDL cholesterol levels, implicated in many heart diseases. Saturated fats found in meat and dairy products are a no-no since they are high in their energy content and pack more calories per unit weight than the unsaturated varieties.

Don`t give up on fat entirely as fats are our source of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. However, source your fat intake from healthy sources such as sunflower oil, safflower, rice bran and olive oil. Also restrict the amount you have to not more than 3 teaspoons per day. You`ll find that dishes made with less oil are equally tasty.

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