Fat

Although a certain amount of fat is essential to our survival as mammals, it is too much of the wrong types of fat in our diets that causes obesity and clogs arteries. Saturated fats are particularly bad for us, unsaturated fats are also bad for us. These are the types of fats found in burgers, cheese, cakes, crisps etc, so this is why we must avoid these foods in excess. Oils such as olive oil contain 'good' fats which can actually help to prevent heart disease, and essential fatty acids can be got from foods such as seeds and oily fish. Our diets should be made of roughly 30% fat normally, and less for a weight loss diet.