Shepherd University students need to cut down on bad fats included in pizza and cheese and eat more nuts and fish, said Shepherd University campus dietitian Jennifer Miller.
“We get most of our fats from pizza, about 9.7 percent and another 7.6 percent from cheese itself,” said Miller in a health class she held on how to improve overall health and cholesterol, citing a chart she had compiled showcasing the poor eating habits of Americans.
In her discussion, Miller explained that there are good fats: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated, which come from nuts, fish, seeds and avocados, and bad fats: saturated, which come from animals, and trans-fats, which is man-made.
Miller stressed that there are ways to eat healthy.
“Fiber is very important, it improves blood cholesterol, blood glucose, bowel health, and it helps maintain a healthy body weight, 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men daily,” said Miller. “Consume foods in whole, nutrient dense forms. Beans are like the healthiest foods you can eat.”
Miller plans to hold a class on sodium and hypertension in the near future at an undetermined date. She asked that those interested email her to reserve seats at jmiller@shepherd.edu.