Why a Low-Fat Diet Is Killing You

With someone in North America dying of a cardiovascular disease (CVD) every 39 seconds, it is no wonder CVD is such a prominent health concern in our society. Unfortunately, despite heart disease being one of the most talked about health risks, it also happens to be one of the most mistreated and misdiagnosed conditions around. For half a century, people have been following medical advice based on outdated research on CVD. When it comes to the prevention and treatment of the disease, low fat and low cholesterol diets have been recommended and backed by the medical community for decades. This belief that diets high in cholesterol and saturated fat are building blocks in the development of CVD is so deeply engrained in our society that people refuse to believe the more current and respected research.

Only a small portion of the cholesterol in your body comes from diet, as the body cannot absorb a large portion of the cholesterol you ingest. In fact, the liver creates 75% of your body's total cholesterol. Your body has the ability to regulate cholesterol in the blood and modifies internal production levels based on dietary intake. If you do not ingest enough cholesterol, the body makes more and if you ingest higher amounts of cholesterol, the body makes less. Recent studies have shown that cholesterol intake through diet has little to no effect on blood cholesterol levels of most people. Basically, eating cholesterol is not going to give you a heart attack and lowering your cholesterol intake will do relatively nothing to your body's overall blood cholesterol levels. Saturated fat has also been one of the medical industry's main concerns when it comes to CVD as it has been said to raise cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. Current research is not in agreement with this theory and has found that instead of being harmful, saturated fat can actually have a positive effect on your cardiovascular health.

When it comes to saturated fat, although some studies have found that diets high in saturated fat increase blood cholesterol levels, more recent and longer-term studies have found little to no connection between the two. Several other studies conducted on low carb diets, which are often high in saturated fat, have concluded that saturated fats actually have a positive effect on cardiovascular health and CVD risk markers/factors. Low-carb diets high in saturated fat have been linked to weight loss and have neither decreased nor increased the amount of LDL ("bad cholesterol") in the bloodstream. These studies have found many health improvements in their participants related to saturated fat intake, including its positive effects on blood pressure, BMI, abdominal circumference, etc. Overall, many of the more recent and respected research has found that saturated fat is linked to a lower risk of CVD as well as stroke.

In 2008, American's spent $300 billion dollars on cardiovascular disease; almost double what it would take to end world hunger. In reality, heart disease can be treated with much less cost and a much higher success rate by a change in diet and a few other lifestyle changes. The key to a happy, healthy heart is not found in cholesterol lowering medications or low fat-diets. A word of caution. Medical advice/trends do not change with research. Medical advice tends to change with funerals. As opinion makers die, new people with new leadership and new ideas tend to change practice guidelines. Don't be discouraged if your doctor doesn't agree with this. Statin drugs are the leading class of drugs being sold on this planet. Billions of dollars are spent every year on lowering cholesterol. There is a lot of "love" in support of the "cholesterol is bad" camp. It isn't going away anytime soon. Do your research and take control of your health. It is yours to take care of, not your doctor's.

By Dr Paul G Groulx

What is the Paleo Diet: 7 Things You Must Know

You may be wondering: What is the paleo diet? This eating plan has been getting a lot of attention recently, and it’s for good reason. In the midst of new fad diets popping up in books and television shows almost every day, the paleo diet promises something different. It teaches you how to eat the foods that the human body was meant to eat. Here are seven things that you must know. After you learn these things, check out some recipes and give it a try. You won’t be sorry.
First Thing:
We are getting fatter and unhealthier thanks to our diets. Most of us have been eating way too much sugar, entirely too many carbohydrates, and an astonishing amount of packaged and processed foods that are loaded with gluten, chemicals, and other unhealthy agents. We have forgotten how to eat the natural foods available on our planet for human consumption.
Second Thing:
The paleo diet encourages healthy eating. This is not a traditional diet that forces you to count calories or eat unreasonably small portions. You can eat as much as you want, as long as you are eating natural foods that are healthy.
Third Thing:
It is an attempt to eat the foods people ate during the Paleolithic period of time. People in those days were hunters and gatherers. They hunted for meat and fish and gathered vegetables, fruits, nuts
and seeds.
Fourth Thing:
Your calories will count. It does not matter if you eat foods high in calories as long as they are calories that your body can use. When you eat a lot of protein and fiber and cut down on unnatural sugars and carbs, your blood sugar is stabilized and your body uses every calorie for fuel. It does not store the carbs until they turn to fat.
Fifth Thing:
You will lose weight, if you want to. Those of us who follow the paleo diet in order to slim down as well as get healthier know that eliminating the candy, crackers, cookies, ice cream and other junk foods from our bodies will give us almost instant weight loss results. Your entire metabolism will transform.
Sixth Thing:
What is the diet able to do for increased energy? Everything. You will find you have a lot of extra energy, which can help you compete in sports, obtain optimal fitness, and keep up with chasing the kids around the park. You will feel better, stronger and more motivated.
Seventh Thing:
People might be skeptical. Your friends and neighbors who love their low-calorie frozen microwaveable meals and drive-thru window value meals might roll their eyes and wonder what you are up to. Do not let them discourage you from getting healthy and making better choices about your food and fitness. When they notice how you lose weight, gain muscle, and build your immune system, they might take the plan a little more seriously.
Check out some recipes, talk to people who have followed the plan, and you will find out even more.
P.F. VETH