To celebrate the launch of our new Health Swap app, over the coming weeks we will be posting blogs all about nutrition. This blog will look at fats and explain why they are the misunderstood food source.

Fats are probably the most misunderstood of all the food sources; they have had a bad reputation over the years, but research has clearly shown that healthy fats are an important part of a healthy diet. Healthy fats are important for energy release, healthy skin, neurotransmitters and brain function, and they also help you absorb many of the vitamins you need to make your body function optimally.

Broadly speaking, there are 3 main types of fats.

• Unsaturated fats are soft or liquid at room temperature, and these are the type that it is important to consume as part of a healthy diet.
• Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, and in large quantities would not be part of a healthy diet.
• Trans fats are the ones best to avoid completely. They are produced by fried fatty foods, and should not be part of a healthy diet.

There are many different sources of healthy fats, such as oils, nuts, seeds, eggs and wild fish. Fats are an important part of a healthy diet, but caution should be taken not too eat too many of the wrong types.

For more information on the Health Swap app please click here or email dsactive@downs-syndrome.org.uk