Lower the Fat in 2024
By Editorial Staff
While resolutions related to diet are common inclusions on New Year's lists, "Reduce how much fat I eat" is generally too specific to be mentioned. That's a mistake, because researchers have found that high-fat diets affect far more than weight; we're talking colon cancer, the immune system, brain function and even COVID-19 risk.
Researchers used a mouse model to evaluate three different 24-week diets, with each diet containing at least 40% of calories from fat. For one group, the fat came from coconut oil (saturated fat); the second group's fat content came from modified soybean oil (monounsaturated); while for group #3, fat came from an unmodified soybean oil (high in polyunsaturated fat).
All three groups showed "concerning" alterations in gene expression compared to a low-fat control diet, particularly with respect to genes related to fat metabolism and gut bacteria composition. The coconut oil diet appeared to modify gene expression the most, according to the study, whose findings appear in Scientific Reports.
How much fat is considered healthy? The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025, recommend that no more than 20-35% of daily calories should come from fat. Obviously the type of fat also makes a difference, as this study makes clear: saturated fat (butter, cheese, red meat, etc.) is the one to avoid whenever possible. Talk to your doctor for more information.
