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http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/press/releases/press11082006.html
Abstract
This study seems to have concluded that the low carb diet is not associated with any higher risk of heart disease with respect to fat consumption. That is not to say that we should all be eating low-carb diets, but seems to validate the idea that fats in general do not cause heart disease.
There are some long drawn conclusions being made by this study, which appears to have taken no account of hydrogenated fats or refined vegetable oils as opposed to good quality fats. (although mentions good fats as being those which are unsaturated)
While the study could not distinguish between heart-disease rates for people on higher carb diets to those on an animal fat -rich diet. the conclusion made was that animal fats do still cause heart disease because "risk of CHD (coronary heart disease) with low-carbohydrate diets is that the adverse effects of animal products might be counterbalanced by reducing refined carbohydrates.".
This suggestion seems more like wishfull thinking from the anti-saturated campaigners, as what seems to really stand out in this study was the higher risk associated with consuming "High Glycemic Load" carbohydrates. The High GI term can unfairly tarnish many unrefined carbohydrates like potatoes, however it generally does translate to the more refined carbohydrates. The only thing that can be said against animal fats was that it did not give as good protection from heart-disease as vegetable oils.
The conclusion that people who consume good-fats will actually have lower risk of Coronary Heart Disease, is not surprising, however, there is not much mention of what they call good fat. We know that they mention fish, nuts and olive oils, which we do know are particularly high in anti-oxidants and or omega 3, which are known to be beneficial to the heart.
The group who consumed more animal fats surprisingly did not seem to get the same protection, however without knowing more about what was consumed in this group, we cannot say why this was so. It is not unreasonable to assume that people who consume high levels of animal fats may not be so careful about their diets, and may be consuming also more hydrogenated oils, and less foods high in anti-oxidants and less fresh vegtables in general.
One common mistake made by nutritionists is to assume that animal products cause cancers and heart-disease because any diet which excludes all else will result in certain deficiencies that cause cancer or heart-disease.
This idea is as crazy as saying eating vegetables cause B12 deficiency!!
Nevertheless, if it was the case that animal fats are contributing to CHD, those consuming the animal fats were no worse off than those consuming high-carb diets, and still far safer than the high GI diet. This in itself shows that a diet high in animal fats is very poorly correlated to rates of CHD at best.
Given the other benefits of animal fats, (better mental health) one would should not be promoting low animal fat diets based on this study.
Another interesting omission, is the total deaths of all groups in this study, as protection against Coronary Heart disease is not much good, if you die from something else like cancer or suicide!
The full report will be available for free download April next year from the above link, hopefully it will also include the full data, as this study may have some scope for further study. |
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Current Poll Results
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The milk I consume most is: |
Naturalea 4% unhomogenised (
12 %)
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Farmhouse (4%) unhomogenised (
4 %)
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Standard (3.3%) homogenised (
9 %)
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Low Fat Milk Homogenised (
31 %)
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Real Farm Milk - non pasteurised (
43 %)
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