ENDING THE WAR ON SATURATED FAT

For years saturated fat has been vilified in the cardiology literature as well as by prestigious professional organizations such as the American Heart Association (AHA ). But many of us have questioned these motives, as we do not believe that universally restricting consumption of saturated fat is scientifically based. 

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As a matter of fact, there is no true evidence that dietary fat, which generally contains significant amounts of saturated fat, has any harmful cardiovascular consequences. This is in contradistinction to what has been disseminated over the past fifty years.

Recently, a “State-of-the Art Review” published in the prestigious Journal of the American College of Cardiology provided evidence to the contrary which supports my view and the view of many others in the nutritional field. 

These are some of the highlights:

  • Most recent meta-analyses of both randomized trials and observational studies found no beneficial effects of reducing saturated fat on cardiovascular disease and total mortality. Instead, protective effects were found against stroke.

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  • Although saturated fat increases low-density cholesterol (LDL), this is not due to increased levels of small dense LDL particles, but rather larger fluffy LDL particles, which are much less strongly related to cardiovascular risk. 

  • Whole-fat dairy, unprocessed meat, eggs and dark chocolate are all saturated fat rich foods that are not associated with increased cardiac risk.

  • The totality of available evidence does not support limiting these foods.

LET’S DEBUNK THE MYTH ABOUT SATURATED FAT!

Link to the Journal of the American College of Cardiology “Saturated Fats and Health: A Reassessment and Proposal for Food-based Recommendations: JACC State-of -the-Art Review”

Click here for full PDF of the Study "Fats and Health: A Reassessment and Proposal for Food-based Recommendations: JACC State-of -the-Art Review" from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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