Choose a diet moderate in total fat

Since many foods high in total fat are also high in saturated fat, a diet moderate in total fat may help you to eat less saturated fat. Any type of fat is a rich source of calories, so a diet moderate in fat may also help you eat fewer calories, which will help you maintain a healthy weight and lower your blood cholesterol level. Most people should aim to get 30% or less of their total daily calories from fat. In those with high triglyceride and/or low HDL levels, an intake of 30-35% fat may help avoid too high an intake of carbohydrate. This in turn may help to lower triglyceride and raise HDL levels. It is important that the total saturated fat intake stay less than 7%. This means when you do eat fat, you should substitute unsaturated fat for saturated fat. To lower the amount of fat in your diet, choose lowfat foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lowfat or nonfat dairy products, and moderate amounts of lean meat and skinless poultry.

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