Saturated Fat is No Longer Discouraged: Journal of American College of Cardiology

It’s official! Those of us who slather butter, pour cream, and thrive on red meat are no longer rebels! The Journal of American College of Cardiology just issued a revision of recommendations regarding saturated fat.

Upon reviewing the evidence, which is just too much to ignore, the recommendation to avoid saturated fat has been lifted!

From the journal (source):

Whole-fat dairy, unprocessed meat, eggs and dark chocolate are saturated fatty acid-rich foods with a complex matrix that are not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The totality of available evidence does not support further limiting the intake of such foods.

What do the new recommendations mean?

These new recommendations mean that you are welcome to enjoy your chicken with the skin on, red meat, butter on everything, heavy cream, and eggs without feeling like you’re going against your local cardiologist’s recommendations.

Saturated food is primarily in high-fat animal foods. These foods have been prized for their stellar nutrition since the beginning of humanity. Many of those who follow traditional diets have seen first hand at how much more satisfying and life-giving foods rich in saturated fats are.

Coconut oil is also high in saturated fat, and a delicious oil to cook with.

What foods should be avoided instead of saturated fats?

Processed sugars and carbohydrates contribute to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome and are best limited. Hydrogenated oils are man-made saturated fats that are detrimental to health and should be strictly avoided. For the past few decades we have been blaming the wrong foods for our increasing unhealthfulness.

It was the bread, not the butter….

…The toast, not the eggs.

And the cake, not the cream!

You will find as you increase the saturated fats in your diet, that your ‘sweet tooth’ decreases. This is because your body is satisfied and

Why limit sugar and carbs?

The combination of fat and sugar can be a hard combination for the body. When we eat sugar or carbohydrates, our body releases the hormone insulin. Insulin actually causes our body to be hungry, and to store fat. So when we spike insulin while also giving the body the high calorie density in fat, we are likely to eat more calories than we need, and store more fat than is healthy.

You can enjoy ice cream under these new guidelines, just make sure to limit it, or choose a low-sugar variety like our Yummy Homemade Lemon Ice Cream.