Trending
Is Shawarma Healthy For You : Know From Experts 7 Career Paths to Explore in Healthcare Can Lyme Disease Cause Weight Gain? Are Teeth Bone: Know From Experts Dangerous Side Effects of Using Expired Menstruation Products Intuitive Massage Therapy : Benefits, How To Do Best 20 Homemade Juice For Weight Loss: Recipes Rudra Mudra : How To Do, Benefits, Side Effects and Precautions Third Eye Mudra: Benefits, Side Effects, How To Do and Precautions 7 Factors Responsible For The Alteration Of Red Kratom Extract Dosage 6 Best Yoga Poses to Boost Immunity Power 6 Best Yoga Poses To Relieve Soreness: My Experience, Expert Insights and Outcomes What Are The Health Benefits of Watermelon Seeds Incredible Health Benefits and Side Effects of Coconut Betel Leaf for Diabetes Ginseng Coffee: Benefits, Side Effects And Recipe Bumbu Rum : Is Bumbu a Good Rum? Dhyana Mudra: Benefits, Side Effects, How To Do and Precautions Amazing Health Benefits of Prithvi Mudra Plant Based Diet or Vegan Diet: Types, Benefits and Mistakes 9 Strategy For Avoiding Chronic Diseases Caused By A High-Calorie Diet 10 Best Yoga Poses For Thyroid With Steps 34 Best Health and Fitness Websites to Help You Get in Shape Close Grip Bench Press With Dumbbell : Proper Technique Paralysis Treatment: By Yoga, Exercise And Physiotherapy What Is Metabolism And How It Works? How To Lose Fat Around Private Area : Exercise And Diet Camphor For Weight Loss : Does It Really Work? Four Things to Consider During Menopause Surya Mudra : Meaning, Benefits and Weight Loss Zendaya Leaked Workout & Diet Routine: Full, Practical Breakdown Best Fitness Apps To Get Rid of Trainers How to Get Rid of a Double Chin Fast: Exercises, Diet and Home Remedies High Intensity Interval Training Workouts for Seniors What is Quantum Nutrition: Food and Benefits Functional Training Exercises: Benefits, Types and Precautions How to Order the Exercises in Your Training if You Want to Achieve Better Results? A Dumbbell Routine for back and arms to Do at Home in Just 30 Minutes Lotus Mudra: Benefits, Side Effects, How To Do and Precautions The Spiritual Power of Ginger: Ancient Roots, Modern Wisdom
Appointment
Ask Question
Talk2Expert
Q&A
Health Tracker
Workout
Nutritious
Meditation
Well-Being
Mood Music
Social Service
Podcast E-book
9.7k
Reads
1.1k

Ways to Replace Saturated Fats in a Rich and Healthy Way: Science Supports

Listen to this article

Spices have sparked wars in times past, and now that we have hundreds of them at our disposal, we don’t use them well. Unless you are a cooking enthusiast, we usually opt for prepared sauces and condiments that greatly shorten cooking times. However, it is possible to eliminate excess unhealthy fats, sugar and salt from some preparations and make them taste the same or tastier. The trick is in the correct use of spices to obtain alternative recipes.

Recipes are more flavorful with healthy spices than with fat, salt and sugar.

In the 1990s, ‘fatphobia’ began, pointing to all fats as the culprit of all diseases. The food industry changed its products by eliminating fats and selling them better under the “low-fat” label.

From that stage emerged foods that are totally discouraged today, such as margarine, which replaced butter . The strategy to sell more products was to eliminate fats, which are what give that flavor and texture, and add sugars to compensate for that deficit .

These are the condiments most used by the Japanese that you can imitate at home to improve your health

Benefits of Bone Broth Carnivore Diet

The problem came when carbohydrates began to be the bad guys in the movie, and now that strategy was beginning to be no longer valid. Today we know that neither carbohydrates nor fats are the bad guys in the movie , but rather the food that contains them.

The fat in an avocado has little to do with the trans fats in industrial pastries. A refined cereal does not even generate the same impact as a whole grain, both being rich in carbohydrates.

What can I do then to get my recipes right?

Choose healthy foods , not macronutrients like carbohydrates or fats. To deal with the intense flavor that the industry has created in its sauces and ultra-processed foods, it uses something that we have at our disposal , but that even generated wars centuries ago: spices.

A publication in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics highlighted the importance of the taste of food if we want to eat well . That is the main reason why we like chocolate (sugar cocoa) more than pure cocoa, for example.

The researchers’ main conclusion is that the participants actually preferred some of the recipes in which much of the saturated fat and salt was replaced with herbs and spices . To reach this conclusion, the people in the study worked with culinary experts in three different scenarios:(1)

  • First scenario : Typical amounts of saturated fat, sugar, and salt used in classic meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, and brownie recipes.
  • Second scenario : they improved the recipes nutritionally by eliminating excess saturated fat, sugar and salt, without adding anything extra.
  • Third scenario : It had the same nutrient profile as the second, but also contained added herbs and spices, such as garlic powder, ground mustard seeds, cayenne, cumin, rosemary, thyme, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

The goal of the study was to reduce unhealthy ingredients due to their excessive sugar, unhealthy fat and salt content, and replace them with spices that would improve the flavor of the recipe. The result is as surprising as it is understandable: participants liked some of the recipes from the third scenario more than the original ones from the first scenario.

Eating well and eating rich are compatible.

The number of people who cook healthy recipes is increasing, as we are realizing that there are food groups and spices that enhance the flavor even more than unhealthy options. The only problem is that it requires time cooking and basic cooking skills.

Points To Ponder.

  • Substitute fats with herbs: Butter or cream can be substituted with rosemary, oregano, basil, cumin, turmeric and cinnamon to enhance the flavors.
  • Citrus Boost: Lime or lemon juice or zest can be added to add lightness to a dish and may be used in place of heavy sauces or excess salt.
  • Nuts and seeds: Replace cheese or creamy toppings with roasted sesame, sunflower or pumpkin seeds, to add flavor and healthy fats.
  • The way of cooking applies: Baking, steaming, and grilling do not need a lot of oil because they will help to reveal natural flavors.

Personal Interview.

We have interviewed Dr. Kavita Nair clinical nutritionist and culinary wellness coach:

People have the notion that healthy food is tasteless and that is not the case. When applied in the proper way, spices not only help reduce the amount of harmful fats in your diet; they also provide certain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects to your food. Actually, the greatest revelation when I deal with clients is how delicious their food becomes once they begin adding cumin, cinnamon, garlic or turmeric instead of using a lot of oil, cream or butter.

Frequently Asked Questions.

1 Is it possible to substitute fat in recipes with the spices?

Yes. Spices and herbs add flavor to foods in a way that makes them satisfying without the need to use a lot of oils, butter, cream.

2 Are all fats unhealthy?

No. Fats derived through healthy sources such as avocadoes, nuts, seeds, and olive oil are healthy. Reduction should mainly be done on trans fats and excess saturated fats.

3 What can I do to begin using less spices in cooking?

You can start by adding one or two spices in your daily meals. As an example, put cumin in soups, cinnamon in oatmeal, or powdered garlic in the roasted vegetables. Eventually, you will use natural flavoring agents which are high-fat.

Bottom Line.

The take-home message from this article is that we have so many spices at our disposal that we don’t even know about them, and we would be surprised by the flavor our dishes can achieve if we use them well. If you are looking to improve your diet, get a good assortment of spices and enjoy your healthy recipes .

+1 Source

Freaktofit has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, educational research institutes, and medical organizations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and up-to-date by reading our editorial policy.

  1. Using Herbs/Spices to Enhance the Flavor of Commonly Consumed Foods Reformulated to Be Lower in Overconsumed Dietary Components Is an Acceptable Strategy and Has the Potential to Lower Intake of Saturated Fat and Sodium: A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Analysis and Blind Tasting; https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(23)01293-5/pdf

Last reviewed on

How we reviewed this article:

🕖 HISTORY

Our team of experts is always monitoring the health and wellness field, ensuring that our articles are updated promptly as new information emerges. See Our Editorial Process

Current Version
Oct 2, 2025

Written By: Lisa Valente

Reviewed By: Laine Greenawalt

May 5, 2024

Written By: Lisa Valente

Reviewed By: Laine Greenawalt

The dietary recommendations provided here are based on research and expert review. Individual needs vary — please consult a registered dietitian or nutritionist before changing your diet. Know More

Leave a Comment

SUBSCRIBE TO GET LATEST FITNESS AND NUTRITION UPDATES!

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Evidence Based

This content is based on scientific research and written by experts.

Our team of licensed health professionals, nutritionists and fitness experts endeavor to be unbiased, objective, honest and to present each sides of the argument.

This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses (1,2,3) are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific researches.

Index