Why You Shouldn't Fear Fatty Foods: A Popular Myth Debunked
The article debunks the myth about the dangers of fatty foods, explaining that fat-free products often contain a lot of sugar. The author references a post by nutritionist Oleg Shvets, discusses the funding of research by the sugar industry, and recommends consuming healthy unsaturated fats while avoiding trans fats.
The article debunks the popular myth about the dangers of fatty foods, drawing on a Facebook post by professor and nutritionist Oleg Shvets. The author explains that in the second half of the 20th century, the theory about the harms of saturated fats led to recommendations to reduce consumption of butter and fatty meats. The food industry responded by producing fat-free products, to which sugar and fast carbohydrates were added for taste. Later, it turned out that some studies blaming fats were funded by the sugar industry. The fashion for fat-free eating did not bring benefits: in countries that followed it, the number of people with obesity and type 2 diabetes increased. Meanwhile, in the Mediterranean, where cheese and olive oil are consumed, the level of cardiovascular diseases remained low. Modern experts believe that fats are necessary for the absorption of vitamins, the functioning of the nervous system, and the construction of cell membranes, and they also help maintain satiety longer. It is recommended to choose unsaturated fats: olive oil, sea fish, nuts, seeds, and avocado. Butter is acceptable in moderate amounts, while industrial trans fats should be avoided.