[Cardiomonster]

Hello.

I'm unsure where this questions really belongs - but I've been following this group for a while and you all seem like savvy chicks.

I have been studying nutrition labels - in particular, the amount of fat in foods - which can be very scary. Most labels have at least total fat, sat fat and trans fat listed. But not the levels of the mono or poly unsat fats. My question is this: If I take the total fat - sat fat (I AVOID trans fat at all costs) does that necessarily equal the mono/polu unsat fats.

And if so, what levels of each of these should I be eating? Any info is helpful.

[Suzanne 3FC]

If the label says "trans fats - 0" then what is not saturated fat could be mono and/or poly. If the label does not say there are 0 trans fats, then the mystery fat could be trans fats. The new labeling law should take care of that, though. As of January 1, 2006, all nutrition labels will have to specify trans fats.

The Mayo Clinic has a great article about choosing dietary fats at http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?id=NU00262&si=1767