Saturated fat comes mainly from animal sources of food, such as red meat, poultry and full-fat dairy products. But they can also be found in some plant foods, such as palm oil and coconut oil. For decades, eating saturated fats has been miss-portrayed (based on faulty science and food-industry vested interests) to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and raise cholesterol up until now, that is.
But, this week The American College of Cardiology published a state-of-the-art review on their current stance on the limitation of Saturated Fats.
They stated “The recommendation to limit dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake has persisted despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Most recent meta-analyses of randomized trials and observational studies found no beneficial effects of reducing SFA intake on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and total mortality, and instead found protective effects against stroke.”
Low carbohydrate, high fat supporters (of which ProLongevity is one) have long believed that the current “low fat, high carb” dietary guidelines set out by leading health organisations (which, sadly, includes the NHS) are wrong and that obesity and type2 diabetes would be better tackled by eating fat, including saturated fat, alongside reducing carbohydrates and avoiding snacking. Eating a combination of saturated and unsaturated fats make us feel fuller for longer which decreases our portion sizes and how frequently we are eating. Reducing carb intake lowers blood sugar.
The College also stated that “Whole-fat dairy, unprocessed meat, eggs, and dark chocolate are SFA-rich foods with a complex matrix that are not associated with increased risk of CVD. The totality of available evidence does not support further limiting the intake of such foods.” Hoorah !! It’s only taken 40 years to correct the record (about the same length of time it took to expose the lie that smoking is a healthy thing to do.. )
Full-fat dairy is a rich source of nutrients including calcium, protein, potassium, and phosphorus. Dairy foods contribute 52-65 percent of your daily dietary intake of calcium and 20-28 percent of your protein requirement. Eggs are a very good source of inexpensive, high-quality protein. More than half the protein of an egg is found in the egg white, which also includes vitamin B2 and lower amounts of fat than the yolk. Unprocessed Meat is an excellent source of protein and several vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, niacin, and selenium. Finally, Dark chocolate is loaded with nutrients that can positively affect your health when eaten in moderation. Made from the seed of the cocoa tree, it is one of the best sources of antioxidants on the planet.
If you would like further information on what foods are recommended and what foods to avoid, click the link below to join our new “Wellness with ProLongevity” Facebook Group which is a fantastic source of knowledge, advice, and stories of people’s own health journey www.facebook.com/groups/278916313071738/