Fat
Limiting intake of saturated fats and dietary cholesterol is recommended. Trans fatty acids—unsaturated fatty acids formed when vegetables oils are processed and hydrogenated—when studied independently of other fatty acids, similar to saturated fatty acids raise plasma low densitylipoprotein cholesterol and intake should be restricted. To lower low density lipoprotein cholesterol, energy intake from saturated or transfat can be reduced if weight loss is desirable or replaced with either carbohydrate or monounsaturated fat when weight loss is not a goal. The American Diabetes Association is somewhat cautious in recommending increased intake of monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fats. The concern is that a high monounsaturated fat diet selected ad libitum may lead to higher energy intakes and weight gain. In general, research suggests that low fat diets are usually associated with modest weight loss, which can be maintained as long as the diet is continued . With this modest weight loss, a decrease in total cholesterol and triglycerides and an increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol are observed.