Low fat diets don't seem to protect from disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

New research suggests that following a low fat diet does not protect from heart disease, stroke, breast or colon cancer.
It has long been believed that cutting down on fat must be good for you. However, a new report from the Women's Health Initiative now suggests otherwise. The study compares a group of women following their normal eating patterns with one following a plan designed to reduce total fat. The two consumed 35 and 24 per cent of their calories from fat, respectively. The low fat group also consumed more fruits, vegetables and grains.

There was no difference between the two groups in terms of breast cancer, colon cancer, heart disease, and stroke risk. The researchers, at Wake Forest University, believe that more attention should be paid to the type of fat in the diet rather than the total amount. 'Good' fats are found in nuts, fish and vegetable oils, 'bad' fats are saturated fats found in meat and trans fats in baked goods and potato chips.

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 8th February 2006