As the country is grappling with the shock from the knowledge that stent price is outrageously high here, three leading cardiologists of the world have come up with a controversial theory. Their contention, unlike the widely held one, is that saturated fat is not responsible for blockage of artery. The meta-analysis5,6,7,8 published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) holds that food rich in saturated fat has no association with coronary heart disease nor with stroke or type 2 diabetes.
Their study, however, finds a link between consumption of trans-unsaturated fat and such diseases. Trans fats are found in supermarket items such as margarine, processed cakes and micro-oven popcorn. Trans fats alone can raise the risk of coronary heart disease by 28 per cent, while the share of its all-disease mortality was found to be 34 per cent. The specialised cardiologists further remark that many heart specialists confuse saturated fats with trans fats. Then comes the revelation from a pooled analysis of 11 studies as a shocker. It shows that replacement of saturated fat with monosaturated fat in fact increased the risks of non-fatal heart attacks.
Now which foods do fall under the saturated and monosaturated categories? Saturated fats are found in meat, egg yolks, dairy products, salmon, nuts, avocados, coconut oil and olive oil among others. Monsaturated foods include vegetable cooking oil, carbo-hydrates such as sugar and grains. So meat, cheese and butter, according to the findings, are healthy diet.
Other experts could not disagree more. They believe that the findings are yet to be complete and, moreover, send a wrong message to people. They are convinced that its impact will adversely impact human health. Which side is right on this issue cannot be determined by the public as laymen with limited knowledge of the matter. But there is a need for the two opposing groups to soon resolve their differences in the interest of people's health the world over.
Even if the concept of fats -saturated, transsaturated or monosaturated - and their impact on human health has received a jolt, the fact remains that some of the kinds cause heart disease and death alike. If this is so, why not reduce the amount of fat in diet voluntarily? Whatever the kind of fat -in meat or other items -people can avoid them and live healthy. No one has disputed that intake of fruits will increase the level of fat in the blood system or they will not provide enough nutrition. Although the latest study has accused some natural varieties for their contribution to raising risks of non-fatal heart attacks, they are not expected to be killer agents.
The three experts have recommended a few things for avoidance of heart diseases. Risk of coronary diseases can be reduced by just walking 22 minutes a day, minimising stress and eating 'real foods'. Alongside they suggest a Mediterrean diet to be supplemented with four tablespoons of virgin olive oil containing 14 per cent saturated fat. In the absence of olive oil, a handful of nuts each day will do as well. This, according to the analysis, will reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases by 30 per cent.
About the suggestions made, there is perhaps no controversy except on certain minor points. But the points at which the controversy gets fuel from each other's opposing claims are poles apart with no possibility of finding a meeting place. This is a serious issue because a lot depends on the management of cardiovascular diseases. If the right choice of foods cannot be made, a person's health will be at risk. How the supporters and the opposing camp will emerge has its bearing on many things including, raising of animals, developing of food habits by people, culinary art and an overall economy of it. If human health is at the top of the order, these issues are all important as well.
People in the West are increasingly becoming vegetarians on consideration of many things, including ethical consideration. One simple rationale is that a rational animal cannot eat another animal to whichever species it may belong. Now all these factors will play some role in making their decision for foods.
© 2026 - All Rights with The Financial Express
