Is saturated fat bad for you? Here’s what the latest studies say about this controversial nutrient
Is saturated fat bad for your health? For decades, saturated fat consumption was routinely linked to coronary heart disease and high blood cholesterol levels. It was also vilified by medical professionals and governmental bodies alike. The rise of this low-fat craze appears to link back to the publication of the famous Ancel Keys’ study back in the 1950s.
A saturated fat is a type of fat in which the fatty acid chains all have single chemical bonds. Single bonds stabilize the fat molecule and make it more rigid. That’s why saturated fats are solid at room temperature.Foods high in saturated fatSaturated fat: A brief history The claim that a high saturated fat intake is directly linked to cardiovascular disease — the so-called ‘fat-heart hypothesis’ — began in the 1950’s.
Following the publication of Keys’ findings, public health authorities began recommending an increased consumption of carbohydrates, and downplaying potential risks of excessive sugar consumption. In fact, the U.S. dietary guidelines from the late 1970s recommended a whooping 7 to 11 servings of bread everyday. It’s also a time when the rates of chronic disease in the U.S. started to rise rapidly.
“There has been some speculation that some of the saturated fats in particular foods, for example lauric acid in coconut oil, may be better for us than other saturated fats,” says Sarah Coe, nutrition scientist at the British Nutrition Foundation. “There is not enough good quality research to show this, and it cannot be said that one saturated fat should be chosen over another.”
Dr. Brian Fisher, MBBCh, MBE, MSc, FRSADr. Fisher has over 42 years’ experience as a general practitioner in the United Kingdom. He has a Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery, and an MSc in primary care. “An increased intake of saturated fatty acids increases the blood total cholesterol level,” explains Dr. Fisher. “These findings suggested that they are a causative factor of coronary heart disease .
Cancer According to the Frontiers in Immunology journal, a diet high in dietary fats may negatively affect our gut health, which in turn can increase our inflammation levels — a known risk factor for cancer. However, it may not be as clear cut. Individual genetic factors and gut microbiota profile may impact this connection. Certain saturated fats, such as lauric and myristic fatty acid found in coconut oil, may actually protect against inflammation.
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