Surprise! The advice to eat less saturated fat has backfired, with obesity, heart disease, and diabetes rates on the rise as a probable consequence of adherence to this unnatural dietary pattern.

Here are some excerpts from a press release for an article published in the British Medical Journal.

Commenting on the article, Professor David Haslam, Chair of Britain’s National Obesity Forum said: “It’s extremely naive of the public and the medical profession to imagine that a calorie of bread, a calorie of meat and a calorie of alcohol are all dealt in the same way by the amazingly complex systems of the body. The assumption has been made that increased fat in the bloodstream is caused by increased saturated fat in the diet, whereas modern scientific evidence is proving that refined carbohydrates and sugar in particular are actually the culprits.”

He points out that recent studies “have not supported any significant association between saturated fat intake and risk of CVD.” Instead, saturated fat has been found to be protective.

Timothy Noakes, Professor of Exercise and Sports science, University of Cape Town, South Africasaid: “Focusing on an elevated blood cholesterol concentration as the exclusive cause of coronary heart disease is unquestionably the worst medical error of our time. After reviewing all the scientific evidence I draw just one conclusion – Never prescribe a statin drug for a loved one.”

The bottom line?

Real food, including saturated fat from plant and animal sources, does not raise heart disease risk; in fact, it lowers it. Processed foods like sugar and flour are at the root of the problem, leading to widespread inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, and heart disease.

Vox Efx (flickr)

Want to do something to lower your heart disease risk?

Ditch the processed foods and eat real, healthy foods.

That includes butter, heavy cream, coconut oil, eggs, meat, fish, and of course, vegetables, fruits, and nuts.

Brenda Gottsabend (flickr)

Disclaimer: The information contained in this blog is for educational and/or informational purposes only, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any condition. If you have any concerns about your own health or that of a family member, you should always consult with a healthcare professional.