Four decades of medical wisdom that cutting down on saturated fats reduces the risk of heart disease may be wrong, a top cardiologist has said.
December 1, 2013
Fatty foods that have not been processed -- such as butter, cheese, eggs and yogurt -- can even be good for the heart, and repeated advice that consumers should cut their fat intake may have actually increased risks of heart disease.
The market for fats and oils continues to grow. Packaged Facts estimates the segment reached $9.2 billion in sales by the end of 2011 and forecasts it will hit $10.6 billion by 2016, buoyed by research supporting the role of specific types of fat in maintaining health.
At the Anuga food and beverage expo in Cologne, Germany, more than 6,500 food and beverage exhibitors representing 100 countries “spread” throughout the 10 specialized trade show halls (Bread & Bakery, Hot Beverages, Chilled & Fresh Foods, Dairy, Drinks, Fine Food, Foodservice, Frozen Food, Meat, Organic and RetailTec).
A small published study found that people who ate cheese over a six-week period had lower “bad” cholesterol compared to when they ate butter, though both are animal fats that experts have recommended avoiding, in order to lower cholesterol.
Doctors and nutritionists have long recommended avoiding all animal fats to trim cholesterol, but Danish researchers report that cheese may not be so bad, and probably should not be lumped in the same category with butter.