Fats vs. Sugars: Which Should You Avoid?

You might remember years ago when fat-free and low-fat foods were taking over grocery stores and restaurant menus, due to the supposed belief fats caused heart disease and other health hazards.

However, experts are now saying fat may not be that bad after all and that sugar is the real enemy.

This is especially true when it comes to cholesterol and heart disease. Fats may not be as bad as previously thought, and sugars may play a larger role in heart disease.

It's hard to avoid sugar in your diet, even when you think you're eating healthy. For instance, when you reach for a flavored yogurt rather than a bowl of cereal you think it's healthier, right? Unfortunately, added sugar has made its way into a longer list of foods than once previously thought.

In fact, added sugar has become so prevalent in food that it makes up 13 percent of daily calories consumed. Added sugars include white and brown sugar, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), maple syrup, honey, molasses and other sweeteners.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association: Internal Medicine (JAMA), those who consumed 17-21 percent of calories from added sugar had a 38 percent higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who consumed eight percent of their calories from added sugar.

What are some ways to help lower your risk of heart disease, obesity and diabetes? How can eating healthy, wholesome foods contribute to this effort?

Dr. Gunjan Kahlon discusses if fat is really that bad for you, why sugar can be more of a contributing factor to heart disease than fat, and how you can cut unhealthy foods from your diet.