Not so fast, says Sonja Connor, M.S., R.D., L.D., because while food manufacturers have been reducing or removing trans fats from their products, they’ve replaced them with equally harmful but less vilified saturated fats. “The popular media have de-emphasized the roll of saturated fat and cholesterol as being important in coronary artery disease,” saysid Conner, a research associate professor in the School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

The emphasis in the media and popular culture on the dangers of trans fats has directed attention away from the ill effects of saturated fats, which has allowed food manufacturers to quietly introduce them into formerly trans-fat-filled foods. And while saturated fats get little airtime, “100 years of scientific studies … provide the crucial evidence for implicating dietary saturated fat and cholesterol as the major cause of coronary disease,” said Connor in a presentation this week to the Washington State Dietetic Association.

While both types of fat are harmful, Americans eat about five times more saturated fat than trans fat. To manage your fat intake and safeguard your health, get in the habit of reading nutrition labels. The American Heart Association recommends that limiting the amount of saturated fats you eat to less than 7 percent of total daily calories. That means, for example, if you need about 2,000 calories a day, no more than 140 of them should come from saturated fats. That’s about 16 grams of saturated fats a day.

In addition, the Food and Drug Administration offers these tips you can use every day to keep your consumption of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol low while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet:.

• Check the Nutrition Facts panel to compare foods because the serving sizes are generally consistent in similar types of foods. Choose foods lower in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol. For saturated fat and cholesterol, keep in mind that 5 percent of the Daily Value (%DV) or less is low and 20 percent or more is high. (There is no %DV for trans fat.)

• Choose alternative fats. Replace saturated and trans fats in your diet with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. These fats do not raise LDL cholesterol levels and have health benefits when eaten in moderation. Sources of monounsaturated fats include olive and canola oils. Sources of polyunsaturated fats include soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil and foods like nuts.

• Choose vegetable oils (except coconut and palm kernel oils) and soft margarines (liquid, tub, or spray) more often because the combined amount of saturated fat and trans fat is lower than the amount in solid shortenings, hard margarines, and animal fats, including butter.

• Consider fish. Most fish are lower in saturated fat than meat. Some fish, such as mackerel, sardines and salmon, contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are being studied to determine if they offer protection against heart disease.

• Choose lean meats, such as poultry without the skin and not fried and lean beef and pork, not fried, with visible fat trimmed.

• Ask before you order when eating out. A good tip to remember is to ask which fats are being used in the preparation of your food when eating or ordering out.

• Limit foods high in cholesterol such as liver and other organ meats, egg yolks, and full-fat dairy products, like whole milk.

• Choose foods low in saturated fat such as fat- free or 1 percent dairy products, lean meats, fish, skinless poultry, whole grain foods and fruits and vegetables.

Exercise is an important part of staying in shape and keeping your body young and fit, but it is not enough. The antioxidants in foods that we include in our diets are the real staples to remaining young.

What Foods are Highest in Antioxidants?

The Acai berry that is found in the Amazon is the highest antioxidant food that has been found. The research on this little purple berry has been astounding and the affects that is has on the aging process unbelievable. Natives have been using the Acai berry for centuries for its healing abilities; the United States has just recently discovered the benefits of the Acai berry and is marketing it across the country for its ability to turn back time.

The Acai berry can be found in pill form or powder form and in some instances you will find it being distributed in health drinks as well. If you are not planning on taking a trip to the Amazon rain forest anytime soon and prefer to get your nutrients from food rather than a vitamin or powder substance, there are many other foods that are high in antioxidants:

Raw nuts, grains, and legume contain vitamin E that will increase the antioxidants in your body. Vegetables like beets, eggplant, and rhubarb are very high in antioxidants. Fruits such as blueberries, apples, and mangos also have a very high antioxidant value.

What Are The Benefits to Antioxidants?

As well as reversing or slowing down the aging process, antioxidants are beneficial to your overall health. Antioxidants are used to fight cancer, heart disease, and many other fatal diseases. Your body is cleansed of the toxins and restored with nutrients that it needs to stay strong. The antioxidants remove toxins from your skin and hair making it younger and healthier looking, it can also prevent the aging process from sneaking up on you when you least expect it.

The largest benefit to the antioxidants in the foods mentioned above and in many others is the simple f act that you only have to enjoy the sweetness they offer and they will do the rest. Adding fresh blueberries to the top of your pancakes in the morning always tasted good, but now it has been proven it can help keep you young and healthy.

The natural form of acai berry is exceedingly rich in nutrients such as vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E and minerals such as iron, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. Therefore the diet pills made up of acai berry are not only helpful in losing those extra pounds but also in other health related issues such as improving your digestion, detoxifying and cleansing your body, boosting your immunity and maintaining your cholesterol level. These pills are also helpful in improving your concentration level, improving your stamina and increasing your energy levels. According to clinical researches, acai berry is also excellent in helping against constipation, maintaining vascular cardiac system and improving blood circulation.

As per an acai berry review, Acai Berry Pure is a top rated product which is extremely helpful for those who are looking for ways to lose their weight. It’s an excellent choice for them as by consuming these pills, they will not only lose a substantial amount of weight but will also receive other health benefits that are hard to be found in any other food supplement. The manufacturer of Acai Berry Pure is also offering a risk free trial offer in which it provides one Acai Berry Pure bottle by charging only the handling and shipping costs. If you feel that it’s working for you, you can place your order for another bottle. This indicates how committed and sure the company is and how effective their product is. According to clinical studies, an average person can lose up to 10-25 lbs every month and the best thing is that it doesn’t cause any negative effects on the person’s health.