People at high cardiovascular risk benefit the most from reducing saturated fat
A recent scientific review published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine shows that people at high risk of cardiovascular disease can reduce the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular events by replacing saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat from vegetable oils, fish and other healthy foods.
According to Ms. Debbie Petitpain - a nutritionist and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Nutrition and Diet - people with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes or a history of heart disease are the group that benefits most clearly from reducing saturated fat.
Experts say saturated fat can increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, commonly known as "bad" cholesterol. When this cholesterol level increases, plaque can accumulate in the arteries, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.
No need to completely eliminate but should limit
Dr. Sean Heffron - preventive cardiology doctor and Director of Cardiovascular Fitness and Nutrition at the Center for Preventive Cardiovascular Diseases at NYU Langone Heart (USA) - believes that the impact of a diet high in saturated fat may not appear immediately in the first few years, but the risk will increase in the long term.
Saturated fat should account for less than 10% of total daily energy, while the American Heart Association recommends limiting it to about 6% of total daily calories.
Foods high in saturated fat include fatty red meat, butter, animal fat, whole milk products and processed foods.
However, experts emphasize that saturated fat is not entirely bad. The important thing is the amount of consumption, health risks of each individual and the type of food used to replace it. A diet rich in green vegetables, fruits, whole grains and healthy fats is still the most important foundation for protecting cardiovascular health.
