Saturated Fats Are Not As Bad As Previously Thought!

Crisco (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am just glad that I can now eat all the saturated fats that I like without feeling guilty!  This article by Dr. Mercola and The Atlantic traces the history of how "Crisco" replaced saturated fats such as lard and butter, based on somewhat dubious scientific facts, and changed the way American cook. 

In the meantime, heart disease did not decline. We were made to believe that saturated fats, such as lard, butter and coconut, were really bad for us. While hydrogenated vegetable oil, such as Crisco and margarine were really bad for us.

We bought into this bad science, hook, line and sinker! We are now learning that saturated fats from walnuts, almonds, butter, coconut oil, and lard are not that bad. We need some fat in our diet, but everything has to be done in moderation as part of an overall healthy nutrition plan! So hello flavor, welcome to tasty and healthy cooking!

By Dr. Mercola

A little over 100 years ago a German scientist wrote a letter to a company that made soap, and in so doing changed the way the world cooks its food.  The soap company, Procter & Gamble, bought the scientist's idea—and Crisco was born.

At this time in history, people used animal fats for cooking in the form of lard and butter. And while Crisco was purposely formulated to resemble lard and cook like lard, it was nothing like lard. The rest of the story, as related in The Atlantic, is a tale of marketing successⁱ.

Story at-a-glance

• Crisco changed the way Americans cooked and ate, and it has taken 90 years to debunk the myth that hydrogenated vegetable oil (trans fat) is healthier than animal fats (saturated fat)—a myth created and maintained primarily through wildly successful marketing and one seriously flawed hypothesis
• In more recent years, numerous studies have confirmed that saturated fat consumption is not associated with heart disease. On the contrary, it appears to be associated with improved heart health and decreased risk of heart disease
• I and other nutritional experts believe most people need upwards of 50-70 percent healthful fats in their diet for optimal health

Source -- click to read more:

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2012/05/31/coconut-oil-for-healthy-heart.aspx?e_cid=20120525_DNL_artTest_A6


Disclaimer: The statements regarding the nutritional and medicinal properties of the various foods have not  been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These items are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Please consult your own physician for guidance regarding your health and nutrition.

Related articles

• Avocados, Good Fats & Heart Health (avocadocentral.com)
• Standing by Saturated Fat (bodychange.net)
• Lard Is Back In The Larder, But Hold The Health Claims (wnyc.org)
• Is saturated fat bad for you? (mnn.com)