We’ve heard it over and over again: If you want to prevent heart disease, limit your saturated fats. The truth is that saturated fats don’t cause heart disease. Here are the facts.
Picture: withwind/Flickr
Two comprehensive meta-analyses (a study of studies), one published in 2010 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and another published in 2014 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined data from hundreds of thousands of participants and concluded that there’s no significant link between saturated fat consumption and cardiovascular disease.
But are saturated fats beneficial? Perhaps slightly. Saturated fat increases satiety after a meal more so than carbohydrates and possibly protein. In fact, decreasing saturated fat too much may lead to a decrease in testosterone in men.
We’re not saying to go crazy on the milkshakes, of course. Foods high in saturated fats tend to be high in calories, and eating a calorie-rich diet and gaining unnecessary weight isn’t good for anyone’s health. All that said, it’s important to know that saturated fat isn’t the devil that everyone has made it out to be and can be enjoyed as part of a sensible diet.
10 Awful Myths Perpetuated by the Media [Examine.com]
Comments
8 responses to “Contrary To Belief, Saturated Fat Isn’t Bad For Your Heart”
The real problem has been confirmed as Carbohydrates, particularly processed foods and breads. I switched from cereals in the morning to Bacon and eggs, and I no longer get that hungry feeling before lunch.
No, carbs are not “Confirmed” as any kind of problem. Cutting down carbs works for you? Great, keep at it. Enjoy the feeliong of satiety the protein and staurated fat is giving you, but it’s not because carbs are bad. The problem with carbs is the same as saturated fat as stated in the article – they’re high in calories and “eating a calorie-rich diet and gaining unnecessary weight isn’t good for anyone’s health.”
Beg to differ, although I can’t remember the name of the doco’s that I watched, there was clear evidence that Carbs were a major problem, and processed food is the biggest problem for weight gain in society today!
Wow saw it on a TV doc. What do you reckon the chances are that its even partially correct
“clear evidence”, or “possible hint of a lead in specific circumstances, should do more studies”? (which the media, including TV doco’s, often interprets as “irrefutable fact – science proves X”)
EDIT: sorry, replied to you, meant to reply to the parent comment
Carbs aren’t “high in calories” at all. Check out some facts on basic nutrition. 1 gram of carbs is 4 calories. 1 gram of fat is 9 calories. What is a calories rich diet anyway?? This article sucks
It’s the exactly same with cholesterol. No direct link (or even convincing association) has ever been shown between intake and serum levels. Mainly as cholesterol is synthesised in the liver.
Genetics and lifestyle factors are more important in determining serum levels. And even then, absolute concentration isn’t important but rather the balance between “good” HDL and “bad “LDL”. Again, this ratio is far more dependent on exercise, smoking and so on than intake.
*giggles*