Heart Health Heart Healthy Diet

Low-Fat Diets Do Not Lower Health Risks


A major study found that low-fat diets are no better than regular eating habits at reducing the risk of heart disease and certain cancers, ending hopes that such diets alone can prevent these troubles. Following 50,000 women for close to eight years, researchers found that those who reduced their total fat intake from 37 percent to 28 percent of calories were just as likely to suffer from many of the same health problems as women who stuck with a high-fat diet. While the findings were clearly a blow to low-fat diets as a whole, they confirm what many researchers have long suspected: it's not the amount, but the type of fat that can affect your health. Experts still recommend that you avoid the saturated and trans-fats found in French fries and other fast foods, and focus instead on healthier fats, such as those found in fish and olive oil.

RELATED PROGRAMS