1. The association between saturated fat and heart disease may have been overstated or overemphasized - but this does not mean there is no correlation. The two are still linked. It just seems that there are some other factors - such as what ends up replacing them in our diets, and how full we feel without them. For a more balanced analysis, check out this PubMed overview of the evidence.
2. Fat does seem to keep people more satisfied. People on low fat diets seem to feel less full and have a harder time sticking to their diets than people on the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasizes reintroducing unsaturated fats such as olive oil and nuts. These type of fats seem to be definitely beneficial for heart health. Calories still count - and fat is still a dense source of calories - but including some of these foods in moderation will definitely help you feel more satisfied.
3. Cutting out saturated fat, and replacing it with refined carbs, does not help. It seems like the biggest mistake we made in the American Diet was not reducing saturated fats, but replacing it with the wrong foods. Avoiding fat by eating unlimited amounts of bagels, sweetened yogurts, and fat free cookies was a popular strategy - and has been blamed for the simultaneous rise in rates of obesity and diabetes nationwide. Now, a new study indicates that the amount of added sugar in our diets puts us at increased risk of heart disease, regardless of how healthy a person eats otherwise!
But are we really surprised? I think we all knew that low fat cookies were not helping us. The truth about nutrition is always simpler than we want it to be.
What is the solution? A whole foods, plant based diet like the Mediterranean Diet. In other words - vegetables, fruits, whole grains, "good" fats, lean protein. Simple but delicious. For some recipe inspiration, check out oldwayspt.org.
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