My medical doctor is pressuring me to eat a low fat diet to minimize the risk of heart disease. However, my friend who studies nutrition recommended that I do not cut the fat in my diet. I am confused. What should I do?
Many Americans are either being told to change to a low fat diet or are doing so on their own. However, there is strong evidence that replacing fat with carbohydrates could be harmful to your health. This was the conclusion of nutritional experts at the recent American Dietetic Association conference on nutrition in Boston, in November 2010.
A recommendation to reduce saturated fat intake is primarily based on the notion that high levels of saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease. However, if you want to reduce saturated fat, you must replace it with other good fats, as studies have suggested that fat reduction could increase the risk of heart disease. Four leading experts at the conference suggested that low fat diets may be less healthy than those containing at least a moderate amount of fat.
An assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Mozaffarian, concurs with others about a lack of evidence linking total fat consumption and cardiovascular disease risk. Dr. Mozaffarian stated that “overall dietary quality is very important for cardiovascular risk.” He also added that “Saturated fats may raise LDL cholesterol but increasing levels of all fats lowers triglycerides.”
Dr. Lictenstein of Tufts University has noted that we should not focus on a single nutrient for disease risk reduction, because when one component goes down, another goes up.
If you are serious about regaining or maintaining your health, then find a whole food nutritionist and start your journey to better health.
Dr. Glassman is a Board Certified Chiropractic Orthopedists (ACA) and a clinical nutritionist. He is certified in acupuncture, auriculotherapy and physiotherapy. He can be reached at 623-979-2263 or e-mail your questions to bakdr1@hotmail.com.
If this was true then why is the rate of heart disease increasing while the amount of saturated fat consumption is decreasing? Many scientists have shown that there is a serious flaw in the theory of increased saturated fat and consumption of cholesterol as the cause of heart disease. Some say that the entire idea of low fat high carbohydrates diet is the greatest scam in the history of medicine.