Milk is probably number one product that public has misconceptions about. Regular whole milk is about 50% fat! Out of 150 calories per serving, 70 calories come from fat. Many consumers falsely believe that 1% milk contains only 1% of fat that whole milk contains. This is just another unsavory advertising tactic. The fact is that in 2% milk, 40% of calories come from fat, and in 1% milk, 30% of calories come from fat. Although they are lower in fat than whole milk, by no means are they healthy and low in fat.

Recently, I tried Tuscan's Supreme Milk which is 100% fat free and I have to say, it wasn't bad. It is only 100 calories per serving with 0 calories from fat. It tastes similar to 2% milk while providing you with all of nutritional benefits of skim milk.

Another thing that can mislead consumers is serving size. Many times you will look at a product believing that container contains one serving, and caloric and nutritional breakdown are accurate for entire container. For instance, a can of tuna may state that there are 70 calories per serving, but when you look at number of servings in can, it reads approximately two and a half.

By reading labels and understanding food manufacturers marketing jargon, you can sift through hype, and make healthy, intelligent food choices. The next time you head to store to stock up on "healthy foods", don't forget your reading glasses!

Saturated fats are unhealthy fats that are associated with a myriad of health problems. They contain virtually nothing nutritious or good for your body, it's only role is it can be burned as energy. The fact is, you don't need saturated fats at all, but typical diet is jam-packed with them. For health reasons, you want to consume as little saturated fats as possible. Saturated fats are generally solid at room temperature and can be found in butter, margarine, dairy, cheese, and meats. I am not recommending you become a vegetarian and eliminate meat from your diet, but make sure when you are at meat counter you select lean cuts. You do not have to eat meat every day. There are many other good non-animal sources of protein including beans, soy, and tofu.

The truth is, some fats are health promoting and essential to life itself. I recently read a great book by Dr. Udos Erasmus, one of world's foremost experts on dietary fats. I highly recommend you read his best selling book "Fats That Heal, Fat's That Kill." Dr. Erasmus believes that eating enough healthy fats is just as important to maintaining health as eliminating unhealthy fats.