Saturated Fat Now Good For Us??

Do you ever feel like nutrition advice is on a pendulum? First the newspaper says "Vitamin E is good for you, it prevents cancer; then it says vitamin E is bad for you, it causes hemorrhages." The media has a long pattern of contradictions around eating: Carbs are good; carbs are bad. Now after decades of telling people that saturated fat causes heart disease, the media is now spreading the word that saturated fat is not the enemy (sugar is).

One might conclude that nutrition professionals are the WORST people in the world for making up their minds. While this is a funny thought, the problem here is more insidious. Money and greed are the causes of the confusion.

Why is saturated fat now being billed as good? Because the dairy industry financed a flawed study that they claim proves saturated fat doesn't cause heart disease. Why would they do that? Because the dairy industry has millions of dollars to gain if Americans start buying more milk, cream and butter.

Let me be clear, we have A LOT of research showing that saturated fat increases cholesterol levels which subsequently can cause heart attacks and strokes. True, some people are genetically lucky. Some people can eat all the ice cream, eggs and red meat in butter sauce that they want and their cholesterol will barely shift. Most people will have consequences after indulging heavily in these foods.

Let's pretend that saturate fat doesn't cause heart disease. A new body of research shows eating saturated fat (high fat dairy is one of the worst!) increases your inflammatory hormones. Inflammation is linked with arthritis, allergies, asthma, dementia (vascular), inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity. Shall we all have another pat of butter?

Mark Thiesmeyer, MS, MPH, RD
Better Living Fitness