Latest Research Explains Why a Low-Fat Diet Can Actually Kill You
Alex Pietrowski, Staff Writer
Waking Times
One of the great myths of the American diet has just been shattered. It’s one that prompted an explosion in the market for processed foods which substituted chemical concoctions for natural fats in processed foods. And now, finally, the fat-free craze can be safely put to rest.
A study of 135,000 adults, conducted by Lancet, overturns decades of conventional wisdom and warns us that a low-fat diet may actually be killing us. In short, the findings suggest that this type of diet could raise the risk of early death by almost 25%, a number significant enough to challenge current trends in dietary wisdom.
“The study, which has been published in The Lancet, found people with the highest 20 per cent intake of total fat – getting around a third of their calories from fate – had about 23 per cent reduced risk of death compared to those with the lowest 20 per cent of fat intake.
Consuming more fat, whether that was saturated, polyunsaturated or monounsaturated were all associated with lower mortality.
The study also found that compared to those taking in the lowest 20 per cent of carbohydrates, those who ate the highest 20 per cent had a 28 per cent increased risk of death.” [Source]
The biggest part of the problem with such low-fat diets is primarily the types of foods that people eat in order to replace the calories found in fatty foods. In particular, people tend to eat diets containing much higher levels of carbohydrates such as breads, rice, pasta, and other starchy foods which are commonly fortified with sugars.
“Participants eating the highest levels of carbohydrates – particularly refined sugars found in fizzy drinks and processed meals – faced a 28 per cent higher risk of early death.” [Source]
What’s even more interesting in this is the fact that the study also found that higher fat diets appear to actually lower the risk of having a stroke. In other words, everything that you’ve been told your whole life about dieting, consuming, fats, and heart health may be completely wrong. The American Heart Association (AHA) is wrong, especially so in their recent condemnation of coconut oil.
The Flip Side
Of course, the flip side of this revelation is that a high fat diet is actually very good for. That is, if you consume the right kind of healthy fats. In fact, at the cutting edge of dietary research these days is the exploration of a ketogenic diet, which is a low-carb, low-protein, high-fat diet which forces the body to burn fat as fuel, offering a number of health benefits.
“A ketogenic diet — which is very low in net carbohydrates and high in healthy fats — is key for boosting mitochondrial function. Healthy fats also play an important role in maintaining your body’s electrical system.
When your body is able to burn fat for fuel, your liver creates water-soluble fats called ketones that burn far more efficiently than carbs, thereby creating fewer reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secondary free radicals. Ketones also decrease inflammation, improve glucose metabolism1 and aid the building of muscle mass.” [Source]
Final Thoughts
This information offers a return to our dietary roots after having lost our way with the advent of mass-marketed processed foods.
Not too many generations ago, people enjoy vibrant health and longevity while consuming all types of natural fats which have since fallen out of vogue. Real butter. Whole raw milk. Natural cream. Lard. All of these natural fats played a role in keeping us healthy, and although they were vilified by the industrial food giants, we now have a better understanding of the important role they play in human health.
Read more articles by Alex Pietrowski.
About the Author
Alex Pietrowski is an artist and writer concerned with preserving good health and the basic freedom to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. He is a staff writer for WakingTimes.com. Alex is an avid student of Yoga and life.
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