Butter, cheese, and meat on the plate prolong life – cardiologists

In complete contrast to the previous advice from doctors and scientists recommending a reduced intake of fats in the body, the results of a large study by Canadian scientists indicate that a low-fat diet increases the risk of premature death by a quarter.

The journal Lancet published the results of a study which found that after a survey conducted among 135,000 adults from various parts of the world, those who eliminated fats from their diet lived shorter lives than those who consumed butter, cheese, and meat.

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We have been taught that consuming too much saturated fat affects the increase in cholesterol levels, which can ultimately result in heart disease, but scientists remind us that individuals who eliminate fats from their diet often find substitutes in carbohydrate-rich products, such as bread, pasta, and rice, which means they do not intake some very important nutrients.

A carbohydrate-based diet is one of the unhealthiest, and a study conducted by Canadian scientists on 135,000 adults in 18 countries showed that among those who consumed refined sugars and processed meat products, the risk of premature death was 28 percent higher. The results of the Canadian scientists’ research were presented at the congress of the European Society of Cardiology held in Barcelona.

“For decades, healthy eating guidelines have focused on reducing fats and saturated fatty acids, but the body needs fats… they contain vitamins and essential acids that play a very important role for the body. When you reduce fat intake to the lowest level, you deprive the body of all those important minerals,” said Dr. Mahshid Dehghan, the study leader and a scientist at McMaster University.

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Dr. Dehghan and her colleagues believe that low intake of saturated fatty acids increases the chances of premature death by 13 percent, while consuming a higher amount of all types of fats reduces that risk by as much as 23 percent. They claim that anyone who consumes more than 60 percent of their daily calories from carbohydrates is a “candidate” for premature death. Dr. Andrew Mente from McMaster University states that an intake of 35 percent of calories from fats is a guideline for good health.

“Easing restrictions regarding the intake of all fats, including saturated ones, and reducing carbohydrate intake to a moderate amount is the optimal solution. So, the key is balance,” says Dr. Mente.