London - Where do we begin with the mess that is the supposed link between coronary heart disease and diet?
Yet another study appears to have overturned previous advice on cutting down on butter, eggs, red meat and other food containing saturated fats.
Some have blamed Ancel Keys, the American physiologist who, half a century ago, claimed to have established a link between heart disease and saturated fats.
The idea was that by cutting down on saturated fats, you lower cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and so reduce the build-up of fatty deposits in the blood vessels to the heart. His research formed the basis of standard dietary advice for the last five decades.
So what should we make of the fact that recent studies fail to find a link between relatively small quantities of saturated fats in the diet and coronary heart disease? Perhaps not too much - even the scientists behind the new research don't suggest we should go forth and eat more butter, cream and eggs.
The Independent asked Russell de Souza, the lead author of the latest study, whether we have been led astray with previous advice. “I don't think so. With any single food item, too much may be a bad thing,” Dr de Souza replied. “Remember that foods like butter, eggs, and bacon contain not only saturated fat but also other ingredients that may help or harm. Eating too much red or processed meat may increase one's risk of other diseases, notably cancer and diabetes.”
So, if you're confused, just stick to fresh fruit and vegetables, fish drizzled in olive oil, whole grain bread, a little cheese and a glass or two of red wine.
The Independent