LOW FAT DIETS HARMFUL?

We’ve all heard that the key to a healthy diet is eating low fat. Families have been told for decades to limit fats to lower their risk of heart disease. Fatty foods like meat, cheese and cream.

Now scientists say this advice followed flawed trials.  None had involved female patients and “should never have been introduced”. Researchers say existing diet advice followed tests on a small sample of unhealthy men from decades ago.

There is no direct link between fat intake and death from heart disease, they say. Writing in the British Medical Journal, lead researcher Zoe Harcombe said, “If I were in charge of public health policy I would have three words (of advice), eat real food.”

Heart specialists now say eating foods with natural fat such as nuts and fish could actually protect against cardiovascular disease. Families should instead shun low-fat foods which are often packed with sugar. These sugar-packed foods are partly responsible for a spike in obesity rates.

In response to the British Medical Journal report, London-based consultant cardiologist Dr Aseem Malhotra said, “Current dietary guidelines are not helping the obesity problem and, to some degree, are contributing to it.”