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By: Rabbi Zusha Blech

Research into the effect of diet on health, however, has indicated that too much fat in the diet is not desirable, and may cause heart disease and other health problems. In addition, all fat is not created equal. A typical dietary fat is composed of a mixture of various fatty acids chains –– fatty acids with different numbers of carbon atoms attached. It is felt that certain fatty acids may be more beneficial, while others less healthful, in the diet. Other components of fat –– certain types of cholesterol –– have been shown to have a negative effect on health. Since cholesterol is only found in animal fat, vegetable fat has been the fat of choice for many people. Nevertheless, too much of any fat is not very healthful.

In recent years food technologists have tried to find ways to reduce the amount of fat in foods without compromising its flavor, and these efforts have led to the development of a number of fat replacers.