For a very long time, it was believed that any kind of dietary fat—but particularly saturated fat—could increase one's risk of heart disease. In recent years, however, new studies have appeared claiming that fat isn't as evil as doctors and scientists once thought. What's the truth? The simple answer is, fat has a place in your diet. Read on to learn more about this and where you should refocus your efforts to protect your health from heart disease.
Saturated Fat
Doctors and scientists alike once recommended limiting saturated fat intake due to its ability to raise one's blood pressure. Over time, however, new studies appeared that make it clear that it isn't the case.
Multiple studies have been conducted examining both healthy people with no history of heart disease and those currently struggling with heart disease. These studies looked to determine if limiting the amount of saturated fat consumed reduced the risk of heart attacks. Scientists determined that it had no impact on the rate of heart attacks in either healthy people or those with pre-existing heart disease.
Butter
Butter is a type of saturated fat, but it has also experienced a specific stigma over the years. Replacing butter with other things like margarine, olive oil, or omitting added fats entirely from one's meal has been recommended to help protect one's health. However, butter may not be the great evil it was once considered to be.
One study in particular found that eating butter not only didn't increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, but it helped to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Considering that diabetes can increase your risk of heart attack, butter might not be a bad thing to have on the dinner table.
What To Do
While statistically speaking there's nothing wrong with saturated fat or butter, you should always consult with a doctor or cardiologist before changing your diet. Your personal genetics and health will ultimately help your cardiologist to make a decision. However, with this new science now being embraced by doctors everywhere, chances are your cardiologist will encourage you to indulge in these once-forbidden foods in moderation.
If you've been avoiding butter and fat because you didn't want to make yourself sick or increase your risk of heart disease, you now have less to worry about. A little butter won't hurt you, so enjoy yourself—with your cardiologist's permission, of course! Contact a medical center like Temecula Valley Cardiology for additional advice.
Share27 February 2018
My name is Dan and this is my blog. I am a recently singled father of three that is learning everything about caring for my kids as I go along. Before my wife passed, she was the one that took care of the kids when they were sick or injured, so I had a lot of learning to do and I had to do it as quickly as possible. I got together with some of the parents from my kids' school and they helped out quite a bit. I created my blog for two reasons - to keep my facts straight and to help other parents learn what I have struggled to learn.