Fact: Halfway through the 20th century, experts were searching for the reason heartdisease increased from about 10% of total deaths to almost 40% since 1920. Most of them went with the "lipid hypothesis", arguing that the fats that were building plaque in arteries increased with consumption of dietary fat.
Information was manipulated in experiments to support this claim, and the USDA pushed for lower saturated fat and total fat intake. Countless experiments show that a diet high in saturated fat is not linked to triglyceride formation and/or plaque building.
Myth: Saturated fats provide no medical benefit.
Fact: Many experiments show that saturated fats are essential for health. These fats have actually been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease. Other benefits provided by saturated fats:
Improved brain function
Healthier lungs
Healthier liver
Better immune system
Stronger bones
Myth: A healthy diet includes unsaturated fats
Fact: Monounsaturated fats are not seen to cause any harm and provide benefits to your health. Olive oil is a good example of a food high in monounsaturated fat.
Polyunsaturated fats, however, have been recently observed to be hazardous in excess amounts. The products that contain the most PUFAs are all types of vegetable oils and many types of nuts.
The essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, make up most of a polyunsaturated fat, which leads to the next myth.
Myth: Omega-3 and omega-6 are essential to your health so you should consume as much as possible
Fact: Although it is true that both o-3 and o-6 are essential and cannot be skipped out on, studies have shown that excess o-6 blocks o-3 from working.
It is even possible that vegetable oils are one of the biggest reason for the major increase in heart disease since 1920.
Myth: The USDA and all other major health organizations recommend a diet low in saturated fat and total fat, and higher in "whole grains", so clearly this is the best way to prevent obesity and heart disease.
Fact: There is no real scientific evidence to back up the claims of the USDA. Research shows quite the contrary: that fats are essential to your health, and carbs (even whole grains) are the culprits behind fat production in your body.
That's right, the deadly triglycerides come from vLDL, which is produced in your liver when carbs are ingested.
