Sugar and Cholestrol?

 

 

For decades, people dealing with elevated cholesterol levels have been advised to sharply reduce their consumption of foods high in saturated fats. This has lead to the whole "Low Fat/Fat Free" industry and is so widely accepted that it is not even questioned. But in an article published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine this past July, someone did question it.

In a study lead by David Diamond, PhD, a Professor of psychology and molecular pharmacology at the University of South Florida, the authors found "no justification" for reducing saturated fat intake in response to elevated cholesterol. Instead, they suggest cutting back on sugar and refined carbohydrates.

"For the past 80 years, people with familial hypercholesterolemia (doctor-speak for high cholesterol) have been told to lower their cholesterol with a low saturated fat diet," said David Diamond. "Our study showed that a more 'heart healthy' diet is one low in sugar, not saturated fat."

These findings are consistent with another paper recently published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which provided strong evidence that food that raises blood sugar, such as bread, potatoes and sweets, should be minimized, rather than tropical oils and animal-based food. 

I would be wary of using this research as an excuse to amp up your saturated fat consumption. But is does seem to give you yet ANOTHER reason to cut back on the sugar. In eating, as in so many other things, moderation, it seems, is indeed a good policy.