The Fat Debate: Dr Ron weighs in on this confusing health message
The Fat Debate: Dr Ron weighs in on this confusing health message
The low-fat message has dominated our public health messages for decades. We are told to ditch the fat and substitute with low-fat alternatives instead. But how healthy are those alternatives? How healthy is refined vegetables oils and what benefit do they have for us?
Despite the low-fat advice for the last 40-50 years, heart disease has become the number one killer in Australia. Diabetes and obesity have also risen dramatically in that time and are now at epidemic proportions. The advice continues despite evidence that it’s wrong and this ‘all-saturated-fat-is-bad’ message is misleading. Unfortunately I believe there will not be a change in the advice, the industry is simply too profitable. The low-fat message has been employed by far too many organisations including the Heart Foundation, supported by the food and pharmaceutical industries. A great deal of money and professional reputations are at stake.
I go into greater detail on this issue in my upcoming book ‘A Life Less Stressed: The 5 Pillars to Health & Wellness’ (to be published by Scribe Aust & UK in Jan 2018). The book explores how confusing public health messages have become. I make the point that healthy saturated fats from grass fed/finished animals as well as coconut oil are healthy alternatives.
The debate continues
I was reminded again today of how confusing this message has become when I opened the newspaper. Below is an article from SMH 23 June 2017, on how ‘bad’ saturated fat is. For a detailed response to the research article quoted in the newspaper article please read renowned nutritionist, educator, author and friend, Nora Gedgaudas’ response ( with over 50 references to support her position) .
Healthy fats are good for you, too many carbohydrates are not. We saw a great documentary last night The Magic Pill on this very subject with some compelling case histories . If you would like to learn more about dietary fats and what it all means check out our blog post on fat here.
