Low-fat diet could kill you, major study shows

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A major study has found that, contrary to 'the established science,'low-fat diets could raise the risk of early death by almost twenty five percent. The study of 135,000 adults, organised by medical magazine The Lancet and presented at the European Society Of Cardiology congress found those who cut back on fats had far shorter lives than those enjoying plenty of butter, cheese and meats.

Researchers said the study was at odds with the advice health professionals and reseachers working for pharmaceutical corporations have been offering for the past fifty years. From government health departments to our local doctor, the advice has always been "cut down on fats and avoid saturated fats because they will kill you. For many years now however, independent reasearch has shown that fats, including saturated fats, are healthy and beneficial and processed carbohydrates are the real villiain, with white sugar at thetop of the list

Following the official advice has let to people who thought they were eating healthily to eat far too much stodgy food like bread, pasta and rice while missing out on vital nutrients, the study reported.

Participants who consumed the highest levels of carbohydrates, especially the refined sugars found in fizzy drinks and processed meals, faced a 28 per cent higher risk of early death (as always I add a caveat about statistics, always ask percentage of what? In this case, because figures vary widely from study to study if we assume at around 25% (1 in 4) adults under 70 will have some kind of cardiovascular problem, then those who have a 28% higher risk (again 1 in 4 for the sake of simplicity) have a 28% of 25% higher risk.)

The research, presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress, in Barcelona found those with low intake of saturated fat in fact had 13 per cent higher risk if early death compared to those eating plenty.

And consuming high levels of all fats while reducing refined carbohysrates cut mortality by up to 23 per cent. The report warns this does not mean people can gorge on fatty fods every day, too much of a good thing always ends up being a bad thing. A balanced diet and moderately sized portions is the way to  good health.

The Canadian study tracked eating patterns and death rates across 18 countries.

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