A new study published in OpenHeart by PH.D candidate Zoe Harcombe has made the claim that the dietary guidelines on fat issued in the 70s and 80s – and that have remained fairly intact since then – should never have been published.
There isn’t evidence, the paper states, that eating high-fat foods such as butter and cheese leads to high cholesterol, other health issues or death. Fat has been unfairly demonised, something we’ve known for some time.
The guidelines released included that the recommended overall intake of dietary fat consumption be reduced to 30 per cent of total energy intake, and saturated fat to 10 per cent.
“It seems incomprehensible that dietary advice was introduced for 220 million Americans and 56 million UK citizens, given the contrary results from a small number of unhealthy men,” the study says.
“The results of the present meta-analysis support the hypothesis that the available (randomised controlled trials) did not support the introduction of dietary fat recommendations in order to reduce (coronary heart disease) risk or related mortality.”
What’s more, those guidelines could have contributed to the obesity crisis we find ourselves in given that fat is so often replaced with carbohydrates. However the study authors have urged caution around the findings.
For one thing, the guidelines around fat today have been revised to focus on different kinds of fat – including the promotion of good fats – and on the diet as a whole.
And Dr. Harcombe has some solid advice on how to incorporate these new findings, and conflicting information on a health diet, telling Time,
“It’s one message, in three words — eat real food.”
And that includes butter, eggs and cheese.
