Choose Fat Wisely

Americans may eat too much fat overall, but 90 percent of us don't consume enough of the fats that are good for us.

The right balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is vital to cardiac function, joint and skin health, insulin balance and mood stability, according to Dr. Artemis Simopoulos, author of The Omega Diet.

Unfortunately, most of us consume too little omega-3 fatty acids and too much omega-6, which is found in corn oil and can worsen symptoms of some inflammatory and degenerative diseases such as arthritis.

To increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids, Simopoulos recommends eating fish (especially salmon) at least twice per week.

You should also increase your consumption of green leafy vegetables, flax seed and walnuts, while cutting out as much animal fat and hydrogenated vegetable oil as possible.

This appeared in ACE FitnessMatters, ACE's official magazine.
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