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Foods Containing Animal Fat

Fats, just like proteins and carbohydrates, are nutrients that the human body needs. However, too much fat can be unhealthy. Foods containing animal fats are made up mostly of saturated fats.  Out of the three basic elements of fats, saturated fats are considered to be the least healthy and are responsible for high blood pressure and heart disease. They can also lead to stroke and obesity. Being aware of foods containing lots of animal fats is important to preserving your health.

 

  1. Whole Milk

    • Whole milk is composed of at least 3.3 percent fat.  A single cup of milk contains about 8.1 grams of fat.  Out of these 8.1 grams, 5 grams is made up of saturated fat.  This means that 3 cups of milk is enough to give a normal 31 to 50 year old adult his recommended dietary intake of saturated fat per day.  Better alternatives are low fat or skim milk, which contain 1.6 and 0.3 grams respectively. 

    Chocolate

    • Milk chocolate is a guilty pleasure, not because of its high fat content.  A cup of milk chocolate contains 51.5 grams of fat; 31 grams of this, or about 56 percent of its fat content, is made up of saturated fat.  This is almost double the recommended amount of daily intake for a healthy 31 to 50 year old adult.  If you like to eat chocolate but don't want all the fat, consume dark chocolate, which can have up to 25% less fat and is higher in antioxidants, making it a much healthier choice.

    Cheeseburgers

    • A cheeseburger is a common meal in America, especially when you don't have time to cook. Unfortunately, eating this tasty treat on a regular basis can cause weight gain, heart disease and diabetes. Sixteen percent of a regular cheeseburger is made up of fat.  That amounts to about 31 grams, out of which approximately 50 percent is saturated fat. This means that a single cheeseburger is enough to meet your daily saturated fat quota.  Add to this the fact that most fast food is fried, using partially hydrogenated oil, which contains trans fat, the worst kind of fat there is. Trans fat greatly increases an individual's risk of hypertension, cardiac arrest and stroke.

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