Surprise! Saturated fats won’t kill you. Well…it’s a surprise to anyone who hasn’t been paying attention

My funny Valentine

Maybe you saw it too. The valentine’s photo one woman posted online.

At the grocery store, her husband spotted a packaged steak in the perfect shape of a heart. He snapped a pic and texted it to her with a Valentine message.

When I started to read the comments, I actually had a premonition. I could see it coming a mile away. And there it was…

“Ironic that steak causes heart disease. So, you know, appropriate.”

There’s a lot of bad information on the Internet, so it doesn’t surprise me.

But fear of saturated fats has got to be the most deeply entrenched dietary myth of all time. And as new evidence shows, this myth has probably been killing people for decades.

Red flag warning

If you live in the U.S. and your doctor diagnoses you with heart disease, he will probably tell you two things… One: Don’t eat saturated fats. Two: Consume more vegetable oils.

For many years, the American Heart Association has recommended these dietary changes for heart disease patients.

No more steaks for you! Animal fats? No! The end! Instead, you’ll be increasing intake of omega-6 fatty acids found in safflower, peanut, and Canola oils.

Now, that recommendation is not likely to change. No time soon, anyway. Even though a new study in the British Medical Journal is madly waving a red flag, as if trying to warn a driver that his car is about to plunge off a cliff.

UK researchers analyzed data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study. This randomized controlled trial included more than 450 middle-aged men who had experienced a heart attack or some other coronary event.

In one group, researchers told the men to drastically reduce consumption of saturated fats. These subjects also increased omega-6 intake. Members of the other group were free to eat whatever they wanted.

Those in the latter group were the lucky ones. During the seven-year study, they were significantly less likely to die from heart disease or cardiovascular disease compared to the men on the “heart healthy” diet.

A second analysis, based on newly released data from the study, showed no benefit in trading saturated fats for omega-6 fats. But it did suggest a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.

Science Daily tells us that this study “raises questions” about heart disease guidance.

Really — that’s hilarious. “Raises” questions. As if this is the very first we’ve ever heard of this bizarre phenomenon.

No. I’ve been shouting this from the rooftops for years… Saturated fat dangers are absurdly exaggerated.

Three years ago, I told you about a meta-analysis of 21 dietary studies. Researchers found no link between saturated fat intake and a higher risk of heart disease, cardiovascular disease, or stroke.

And in 2004 — nearly a decade ago — The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a remarkable overview of studies. An analysis of 50 years of research turned up no evidence linking low-fat diets with longer survival. And other research produced no evidence linking saturated fat intake with heart disease or total mortality.

So anyone who clings to this empty myth about saturated fat dangers is ignoring study after study. They’ve got their fingers stuffed in their ears, and their eyes squeezed shut.

That’s too bad. Because they’re actually missing out on plenty of benefits.

For instance, saturated fats contain antiviral agents. They also help maintain cell membranes.

And several key vitamins are fat-soluble. They actually work more effectively with the help of saturated fats. And these are powerhouse vitamins like D, E, K, and A.

And one thing you do NOT want to do is impede your body’s ability to utilize stores of vitamin D.

I know…because I read it on the Internet.

Sources:
“Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis” British Medical Journal, Vol. 346, 2/5/13, bmj.com

“Study Raises Questions About Dietary Fats and Heart Disease Guidance” Science Daily, 2/5/13, sciencedaily.com