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Don’t worry – the substitute lie is already there:
Bad fats, meaning trans and saturated fats, increase the risk for certain diseases. Good fats, meaning monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, do just the opposite.
How long will it take for the “saturated fat bad, polyunsaturated fat good” lie to die?
At least that one won’t cause an entire country to become obese.
ReplySteve Johnson’s got it mostly right…polyunsaturated fats play a major role in heart attacks; pockets of oxidized polyunsaturated fat can form in artery walls, then when they pop, a bolus of the stuff comes out and causes blood clotting, which can jam a narrow artery and cause a heart attack. This is believed to be one of the most common causes. And saturated fats are actually very good for you and your skin.
However, polyunsaturated fats probably do play a role in the current obesity epidemic. Not as big a role as carbs, and not as big a role as trans fats, but they contribute. (See the Hyperlipid blog for details.)
ReplyAndrew Kim has an interesting post up about high saturated fat consumption disrupting gut bacteria and causing various health problems through endotoxin absorption.
http://180degreehealth.com/gram-negative-bacteria-obesity/
ReplyI fail to see how taking mice studies and applying them to humans is conclusive in any way.
Replya very interesting read: “Why almost everything you’ve been told about unhealthy foods is wrong” (http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/mar/23/everything-you-know-about-unhealthy-foods-is-wrong)
Happy me! (5 egg yolks a day): “Eggs: We were once told to eat no more than two a week. Now eggs look like the most all-round nutritious food you can eat, so there’s no need to limit them.”
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