Which Is Worse for You: Fat or Sugar?

One day you read that whole-fat dairy products are less likely to contribute to cardiovascular disease than low-fat dairy products. The next day, your doctor tells you fat is unhealthy and recommends a low-fat diet. Then you read that fat isn’t as bad for you as sugar. What are you supposed to believe?

The American Heart Association (AHA), which keeps abreast of research on topics like this, gives both dietary components a thumbs-down.

“Both fat and sugar are bad for you,” says preventive cardiology dietitian Kate Patton, RD, LD. “However, we are talking about saturated fats, trans fats and added sugars. This is where some of the confusion lies.”

Which fats are bad?

Saturated fats and trans fats are bad for you, period. Both prompt the creation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the type that causes coronary artery disease (CAD). Trans fats increase LDL cholesterol levels, decrease “good” high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels and cause inflammation, which accelerates the development of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Saturated fats are found primarily in animal products They are also found in certain oils derived from plants, including coconut oil and palm oil.

On the other hand, no amount of trans fat is safe to eat. Trans fats are not found in nature. They are a byproduct of the process that turns healthy oils into solid fats, such as margarine, and prevent bakery goods from going rancid.

And which fats are good?

Most people find a fat-free diet too hard to follow. The good news is that you don’t have to forgo all fats to stay healthy. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats actually are good for your heart.

According to the AHA, replacing saturated fats in your diet with poly- and monounsaturated fats can lower the rate of cardiovascular disease. In other words, making the switch can have the same effect as taking statins.

“It’s good to incorporate these good fats into your diet, keeping in mind that all fats have 9 calories per gram,” says Patton.

Good sources of monounsaturated fats include olive oil, canola oil, avocados and nuts.

Omega-3 and omega-6 are types of polyunsaturated fats. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that the body cannot make. They reduce risk of blood clots and lower inflammation. Sources of omega-3 fat include fatty fish, such as salmon and sardines, and walnuts and flaxseeds.

Omega-6 fats build healthy cells and nerve fibers. Sources include soybean, corn, sunflower and safflower oils.

Why sugar’s not so sweet

Sugar straddles the line between healthy and unhealthy.

Some forms of sugar occur naturally in foods such as fruit (fructose) and milk (lactose).These are safe when consumed as part of a balanced, healthy diet.

The concern is primarily with added sugars. These are sugars (usually sucrose) that do not appear naturally in foods, but are added for taste. Sugar is the main attraction in foods such as candy, cookies and ice cream. Sugar also is hidden in unlikely places, including breads, cereals and tomato sauces. This makes it very easy to consume large amounts of sugar unknowingly.

“Excess intake of sugar is associated with increased risk of diabetes, obesity and hypertriglyceridemia,” says Patton.

Dietary guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture recommend women consume no more than 100 calories (six teaspoons or 25 grams) of added sugar a day. For men, it’s 150 calories (nine teaspoons or 36 grams).

Make sure you keep track!

Most manufactured products as well as restaurant and frozen foods contain sugar or fat for taste. This means many low-sugar products can have a high fat content, and low-fat products may have added sugar. How can you find out what’s in your food?

“I suggest reading nutrition facts labels, especially the ingredient list, and using an app to help you see where your calories are coming from,” says Patton.

This article originally appeared in Cleveland Clinic Heart Advisor.