5 ways to clean up your diet: fat's in

Canadians need to think about food quality, not just quantity, says Winnipegdietician Amanda Nash of the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

• 'Cut the crap,' get back to nutritional basics, Heart and Stroke Foundation advises

The Heart and Stroke Foundationreleased a new position statementon saturated fat Thursday:If you eat healthy, natural foods, a little saturated fat is completely fine.

Here arefive tips fromNash forheart-healthy eating:

1. Stop buying processed food andcook from scratch

"We know that highly processed foods tend to be calorie-dense," Nash said. They also tend to be higher in trans fats,salt and sugar.

One of the best things to do for your heart isto prepare meals at home whenever possible and cut out processed foods completely, she said.

2. Eliminate trans fats altogether

Trans fats are industrially produced and the evidence shows eating themleadsto negative health effects, Nash said. Trans fats are found in foods such asshortening and hard margarine. The United States has taken steps to ban artificial trans fats;in Canada, companies are asked to reduce themon a voluntary basis.

3. Some saturated fat is ok

Saturated fat is an animal product. It's found naturally in meats, eggs and dairy. Small amounts are not only fine,Nash said they'renecessary if you want to enjoy the health benefits of those foods.

Saturated fat is known to increase LDL-cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol in the blood, she said, but natural foods containing saturated fats can also be very good for you. The key is to pay attention to portion sizes and avoid foods that are fried and highly processed, she said.

4. Eat unsaturated fats

Unsaturated fats are mainly plant-based, and can be consumed invegetable oils, nuts, seeds and cold-water fish.

"There's lots of evidence that supports the heart-health benefits of including unsaturated fat in the diet," said Nash. Replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats, such as plant oils, can improve your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, she said.

5. Ignore "low fat" marketing eat whole, natural foods

Low-fator low-sodiummarketing does not mean a product is any more healthy.If it is processed it still should be avoided, said Nash.

A "healthy, balanced diet" is the best way to go, she said. That means eating foods thatcontaina wide variety of fruits, vegetables, a range of different proteins and whole grains.