Fat Fobia: Part 2
This is our second blog in the Fat “Fobia” series, in which we discuss fat in the diet and its significance. So sit back, grab an avocado, and enjoy!
Let’s dive right into the research:
Framingham Study (Harvard University, 1948): This project was a decades long study that screened subjects for cholesterol and looked at their dietary habits every 2 years. Once the results were available, they were not what the researchers expected. They expected to see a high cholesterol diet linked with coronary heart disease. What they found was no link between saturated fat intake, blood cholesterol and heart disease. They concluded no association between percent of calories from fat and serum cholesterol level was shown, nor between ratio of plant fat to animal fat intake and serum cholesterol level (1).
Puerto Rico Heart Health Program Study: Over 10,000 participants were involved in this study. They found that there was no link between saturated fat intake and heart disease of any kind (2).
Western Electric Study: The authors noted during the results that the amount of saturated fatty acids in the diet was not significantly associated with the risk of death from CHD (coronary heart disease) (3).
What do these studies tell us? Do not fear fats. There are fats that we should avoid, like trans fats and vegetable oils, but don’t be afraid to put some butter on your bread or eat the fatty part of your steak. At the end of the day, don’t forget to live, laugh and love.
Written by Kenneth G Kells III, PT
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