Guidelines introduced over 30 years ago on dietary fat should not have been introduced, according to a paper published in online journal Open Heart.
The research paper reviewed data available at the time the guidelines were issued. It concluded that the idea that fat consumption should be strictly limited to 30% of dietary intake to cut the risk of heart disease and death was scientifically unfounded.
It was found that the research methods used were too limited to be useful. The paper noted, "It seems incomprehensible that dietary advice was introduced for 220 million Americans and 56 million UK citizens, given the contrary results from a small number of unhealthy men."
However, experts are quick to point out that the findings do not mean consumers shouldn't control their intake of unhealthy fats. Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, clarified, "This paper is not critical of current advice on saturated fats but suggests that the advice was introduced prematurely in the 1980s before there was the extensive evidence base that exists today."
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Jenny Whelan.
