For the past decade or so people have tried to limit their consumption of saturated fats. It was believed that these fats were a leading cause of heart disease and diabetes. As word about these “bad” saturated fats spread, people began to intake more carbs. A study, performed by The Ohio State University, went out to discover if the claims about saturated fats were true.
The University’s discoveries were not consistent with the previous beliefs of saturated fats. The study, which lasted 21 weeks, consisted of 16 middle age obese adults . The researchers placed the participants on a very strict diet which contained carbs and saturated fats. It is to be noted that before the study the participants involved were on a low-fat and high-carb diet. For the first three weeks of the experiment the participants were placed on high fat low carb diet which consisted of 84 grams of saturated fat and 47 grams of carbohydrates. The researchers discovered that there was no increase in the amount of saturated fats in the blood stream after the first three weeks.
Every three weeks after that the researchers decreased the amount of saturated fat intake, and increased the carbohydrate intake. By the end of the 21 weeks the participants were intaking about 346 grams of carbohydrates and 32 grams of saturated fats each day (which is the recommended daily amount of carbs by the U.S dietary). As the amount of fats consumed was decreased, the researchers found no changes in the level of saturated fat in the blood. However, the researchers also noticed an increased of a fatty acid called palmitoleic every three weeks after the first observational period. This particular fatty acid is linked with several things such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, etc.
The risk of excess carbohydrate intake has been overlooked by the risk of excess intake of saturated fats. Carbs can indeed lead to health issues if taken in large quantities. Although the study performed was particularly small, it is something to think about.
References:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/12/03/heart-disease-and-diabetes-risks-tied-to-carbs-not-fat-study-finds/