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Low Fat Diet Myths
By admin | May 3, 2008
The latest research on low fat diets and why they don’t work
For decades, the low fat diet has been the gold standard of weight loss and nutritional help. But do low fat diets really work?
In recent years, trendy diets such as Atkins, Sugar Busters, and the South Beach Diet have questioned the validity of low fat diets.
Others in turn have questioned whether high protein diets are safe and/or effective for long term weight loss.
But putting aside the high protein diets for the time being, the effectiveness of low fat diets has been called into question by a recent study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
The results of this 8 year study of over 50,000 women were released in 2006, and they shocked many people in the medical community.
The low fat myth debunked
This study revealed little or no health benefits from a low fat diet, in which the study’s participants lowered their daily fat intake to 24% of total calories, whereas a control group ate a diet in which approximately 37% of the calories came from fat.
That’s right, there was no significant difference in the rates of colon cancer, heart disease, or stroke between those two groups.
But does this mean it is healthy to eat any and all fats in high quantity on a daily basis?
Hardly. This study failed to differentiate between good fats (monounsaturated and omega 3 fats) and bad fats (saturated and trans fats).
Other studies have shown that diets lower in these bad fats and higher in fruits and vegetables reduce the risk of heart disease and other chronic illnesses.
Good fats and hunger
Incorporating good fats from sources like olive oil, nuts, and avocados can lessen your hunger and thus help you eat less.
While fats are more dense in calories than either proteins or carbs, they also tend to make you feel more sated after you eat them, and this can lead to eating less food and thus losing more pounds.
Fat also keeps you feeling fuller for longer after a meal than do carbs or even protein, because fats keep the stomach from emptying too quickly.
So what is the ideal diet?
The science of nutrition is constantly in flux, and what seems etched in stone today might well be revealed as a myth tomorrow.
Therefore, you have to make educated choices based on the best available information. In my opinion, the best diets or eating plans for weight loss incorporate a balanced approach, including moderate amounts of proteins, carbs, and good fats.
Diets like the Zone and the Abs Diet both seem to me to fit these criteria. You should check with your doctor before deciding on the best eating plan or diet for you.
While a low fat diet might not be all it was once cracked up to be, eating a combination of eating a proper diet and doing regular aerobic exercise is still your best bet for weight loss.
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