Continued from page
1
Dangers of too much fat
Excessive fat consumption, in particular of the trans and saturated varieties can lead to severe health problems and in many cases death. The main danger of a diet too high in fat is heart disease. Estimates show that nearly
1.5 million people suffer from such problems every year. Although there are numerous forms of heart disease, the most common is the narrowing of the blood vessels due to the build up of fat. This reduces the blood flow to the heart which can lead to angina and in more serious causes heart attacks. Other potential consequences of too much fat include diabetes, gallstones, gout and osteoarthritis.
Danger of too little fat
Research has shown that almost 9 out of 10 of the population don't get enough of the healthy fats the human body needs. These essential fats or fatty acids are vital for a wide variety of roles including effective heart function and insulin balance. A sustained absence of these fats in the diet can have an adverse effect on these functions and potentially lead to severe health problems.
The Final Thought
Fats have become a dirty word in some circles. To some extent it's understandable - we don't want to get fat so don't eat fat. But this is no just wrong it is dangerously wrong. Our bodies need essential fats to function. Yes there are some fats that are better for you than others but even the so-called bad ones like saturated fat are actually good for you in moderation. A diet excessively high in fat is obviously not an intelligent choice but it's no worse than a diet excessively low in fat.
Previous
Page |
