Low Fat Diets
Truth About Low Fat Diets’ Benefits
This Original article was written by Aurel Radulescu
low fat diet plan
A national study recently revealed telling facts regarding low-fat diets and their benefits relating to cancer and heart disease. A study concluded by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) and Stanford University noted that a low-fat diet, alone, is not enough to greatly reduce the risk of heart disease and/or cancer in adult women. The study showed that women who participate in a low-fat diet experienced a 9% reduction in the development of breast cancer. Among the 49,000 subjects, 40% were assigned to a low-fat diet, which required that they reduce their fat intake to 20% of their total calorie intake. Women’s Health Initiative experts, however, noted that a number of low-fat diet participants did not meet the 20% fat intake goal. In a recent news report released from Stanford University, experts conveyed that women who wish to maintain their health should consider a diet that is both low in saturated and trans fats while being rich in fiber and vegetables. This diet would replace one that is geared solely toward the intake of low-fat foods.
“Just switching to low-fat foods is not likely to yield much health benefit in most women,” commented Marcia Stefanick, PhD, professor of medicine at the Stanford Prevention Research Center and chair of the Women’s Health Initiative steering committee. “Rather than trying to eat low-fat, women should focus on reducing saturated fats and trans fats.”
Low Fat Diets Fail the Test?
This Original article was written by Gabe Mirkin, M.D.
You should not be surprised by the latest three studies showing that low-fat diets do not prevent breast or colon cancers or heart attacks (Journal of the American Medical Association, Feb 8, 2006). You should restrict the bad saturated and partially hydrogenated fats, not the good omega-3 and monounsaturated fats. The main reason that these studies failed to show protection from cancer and heart attacks was that the women on the low-fat diets did not lose weight. We now know that full fat cells, as well as lymph nodes, produce the proteins of immunity and cause inflammation.
If you’re trying to lose weight or maintain a healthful weight, reduce your intake of fat found in fatty meats, chicken, dairy products, oils, margarines, fried foods and fatty bakery products; and refined carbohydrates found in sugar added foods, bakery products and pastas. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans and other seeds, and of course, get plenty of exercise.
