Thanks for your thoughts. Truly good ones. The whole issue of public health nutrition, nutrition education, literature results, ethics, good and bad fats, and the list could go on and on and on… could lend to an epic discussion, and I am sure has! Look at all the articles, books, debates, conferences, etc. By any means, as you mentioned, all topics you brought up are very worthy of attention and simply impossible to address in a blog post! A book perhaps, but not a blog post!
Regarding good and bad fats, you’re right that it is a touchy topic, but based on the literature and the current state of peoples’ health I would not by any means feel comfortable telling anyone to go eat as much trans or saturated fats as they please because not only is the fat “bad,” shall we say, but most likely the products that are high in these are also high in calories, added sugars, salt, additives, and basically, “non-nutritive junk.” I feel that is unethical and extremely irresponsible of a nutrition professional. Personally, I strongly believe nutrition is linked to health and that in whatever country you are, people do want to live longer. Most value life and health and in many countires–perhaps even much more so than the US–people believe health is linked to what they put into their bodies … what they eat. But to each his own. Seems we will have to agree to disagree.

Thanks Aaron.

Hope you’re doing well,
Corinne

But, I would argue, although the western ideal of life extension has no inherent moral or ethical worth it fails to consider, or at least, diminished other important aspects of food and life such as taste. Not to mention, if death cannot be given any value, positive or negative, since we have no conception of what it entails or any manner to truly describe or think about it, than our western ideal of health is merely a paper doll, a storefront facade, held up by nothing but the refusal to inspect its merits. Of course, bringing death into the subject may just be an immovable object type argument but I think it is worth considering.

None the less, I would firmly assert there is no good or bad fat simply because it is simply impossible to give inherent value to something such as fat is impossible. Perhaps it can only be viewed in individual context or situations. Or perhaps to even consider nutrition as a matter of “health” is flawed.

I’ve touched on a bunch of different topics, each of which should be expounded upon, but I think each requires careful consideration.

And then there is the fact nutrition public health could be considered a largely unethical practice (if you’re willing to say ethics even exist that is).

Thanks.

Aaron

Yes, the mechanism behind saturated fats and increased cholesterol levels is still to be determined, but I know one theory is that the saturated fats inhibit the uptake of HDL and LDL, therefore increasing circulating levels of both.

Not sure if there is any substance to this theory, but just thought I would throw that out there!

What got me to questioning the evil effects of saturated fat was that I could never find a scientific explanation as to how saturated fats CAUSE atherosclerosis. Sure, saturated fat consumption raises LDL cholesterol levels, but HDL levels too. My understanding is that saturated fats we eat are digested in the intestines (to glycerol and fatty acids) and never make it into the bloodstream as saturated fats.

I did find one article (by Vogel, published about 30 years ago) showing reversible arterial constriction from high-fat meals. That’s as close as an explanation I could find as to how fats might impair circulation.

-Steve

We must also take into consideration that it is now not just the saturated fats that are questioned, but all fat types on CAD. As Weinberg et al (2009) stated in The Diet-Heart Hypothesis: a Critique, “in a systemic review of dietary fat in preventing CAD, Hooper et al. point out: “Despite decades of effort, and many thousands of people randomized, there is still only limited and inconclusive evidence of the effects of modification of total, saturated, mono-unsaturated or poly-saturated fats on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.”

I agree that saturated fat intake is not the “end all be all,” but there are numerous studies that indicate that saturated fat as well as trans do play a role in heart disease. We must keep in mind that studies, which solely isolate saturated fat intake to determine its affect on CAD are difficult, as we both know genes, food intake, lifestyle, exercise/physical activity habits, smoking, sex, age, etc. are all also factors that contribute to CAD. Also, saturated fats are in numerous packaged and processed products along with trans fats, which I do not advocate. Oreos, cheez-its, fried foods, and the like… I just don’t support. Every so often, fine by me…but not as part of a lifestyle or everyday ritual. The amount also comes into play. But, if you want to have a little full-fat cheese, 2% milk with your coffee, or hunk of chocolate as a treat because 90% of your diet is healthful…go ahead–at least, that’s my take.

Basically, the monos and the polys are associated with prevention of heart disease, so I support these. Plus, they are packed with other nutrients, such as vitamin E and perhaps Omega-3s, and are from real, whole foods that can help keep you feeling full. I want people to stay away from the processed, packaged foods that are loaded with salt, sugar, and “bad” fats, which keep you constantly coming back for more…which just isn’t healthy…for your body or heart. But, hey–if you want a piece of full-fat cheese go ahead. I am not a stickler, but want the best for people’s health (as do you!). As of now the science may be “inconsistent” or not 100% supportive on this topic, but the majority of the papers keep me promoting the monos and the polys…for more than just heart health, but whole body health.

Thanks for your comment Steve! And, thanks for the papers…good stuff…Hope you see where I am coming from.

Best,
Corinne

http://blog.nutritiondata.com/heart_health_blog/2009/07/saturated-fats-and-cardiovascular-health.html

-Steve