Ending the Big, Fat Debate

Achieving a clear understanding of the health effects of dietary fats requires a challenging slog through a thick tangle of opinions. These days, it's rare to get through any given news cycle without contentions about dietary fat, expert and otherwise, coming at us from every quarter. The preoccupation, especially intense now, has a rather long lineage. Call to Action: Let's End the Big Fat Debate It is time to end the big, fat debate- by focusing less on nutrients, and more on foods. Some of the most nutritious foods are extremely low in fat (e.g., broccoli, spinach, blueberries) and some, high (e.g., walnuts, almonds, flaxseeds, avocado, salmon). Some of the world's most nutritious diets contain little fat (e.g., most vegan diets), and some, rather a lot (e.g., most Mediterranean diets). Focusing just on fat, or any other nutrient, does not lead reliably to a wholesome, health-promoting diet. Focusing instead on a dietary pattern of wholesome foods in sensible combinations does lead reliably to an appropriate balance of all nutrients. Let's talk less about nutrients, and more about foods. If we get the foods right, the nutrients will take care of themselves! Source: Katz DL, Meller S. Can we say what diet is best for health? Annu Rev Public Health. 2014;35:83-103 Ancel Keys began suggesting we should restrict our intake of dietary fat, saturated fat in particular, as far back as the 1940s. Other notables joined that chorus soon after. Robert Atkins first suggested w...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news