Dr. Kantor recently answered these questions from Bustle regarding the FDA’s recent warning about the true health of KIND bars.

How do these bars compare in saturated fat to 40 g of:

-avocados (.9g of saturated fat/ 40g)

-salmon (.4g of saturated fat/ 40g)

-mixed nuts (peanuts, cashews, almonds, walnuts, etc.) (2.5g of saturated fat per 40g)

-olive oil (5.4g of saturated fat/ per 40g)

-tofu (.3g saturated fat per 40g of FIRM tofu)

-peanut butter (1.8g saturated fat per 40g serving of NATURAL peanut butter)

-soy milk (.2g saturated fat per 40g serving of plain soy milk)

Does saturated fat have any health benefits, and what are they?

Yes, our body does require some daily intake of saturated fat.  Saturated fat is best consumed from natural sources like coconut oil and coconut milk.  Saturated fats help make up the membrane of the cellular structures in the body, and it also helps regulate hormone production.  Saturated fat from natural sources can actually benefit the anti-inflammatory of the body.

How much is too much?

The American Heart Association recommends 11-13grams per day if you are following a 2000 calorie diet per day.

How are they harmful?

If saturated fats especially those from unnatural sources are consumed in excess some research has shown that it can raise cholesterol levels which may lead to increased risk to heart attacks.

In addition, the Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein product does not meet the antioxidant levels that would qualify it to be “rich in” antioxidants, as the label suggests. The product contains 15% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin E and 0% of vitamin C and vitamin A.

What are some foods that are “rich in” antioxidants and how much of the listed vitamins do these foods contain?

Blueberries are very rich in antioxidants containing 23.4% of vitamin C, 1.6% of vitamin A.

Spinach is also rich in antioxidants containing 56.3% of vitamin A, 14% of vitamin C

Nutritional info for the bars identified as potentially “unhealthy.”

The Kind Fruit & Nut Almond & Apricot product contains 3.5 g of saturated fat per 40 g of the food,

The Kind Fruit & Nut Almond & Coconut product contains 5 g of saturated fat per 40 g of the food,

The Kind Plus Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate + Protein product contains 3.5 g of saturated fat per 40 g of the food, and

The Kind Fruit & Nut Dark Chocolate Cherry Cashew + Antioxidants contains 2.5 g of saturated fat per 40 g of the food.

Dr. Kantor’s greatly anticipated new children’s book, The Green Box League of Nutritious Justice, is now available. Be sure to order this highly reviewed book, filled with healthy living tips for the whole family. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.