6 Risks of Eating a Low-Fat Diet

I'm glad to see sparkpeople is coming out against the low fat processed junk...however their preplanned meals still call for stuff like low fat mayo.
I keep my fat down rather then my carbs (I average 60 a day) because I have a nut allergy. I tried eating low carb but in the end since I do not like eating much meat and cannot eat nuts (I am deathly allergic to almonds and walnuts), I'm happier watching my calories even if low carb is healthier. - 9/3/2012 3:58:31 PM

K. Renee - not sure why this article would cause you to question vegan diets. I often eat vegan and always vegetarian with no eggs and limited dairy due to allergies. Even eating vegan, I have no trouble getting plenty of good fats including omegas. Sometimes people have trouble with a switch to vegan because they aren't including enough fat, having been brainwashed about the horrors of fat. My fat intake is usually around 35% with no special effort, sometimes above on avocado days and sometimes less. But it's safe to be at the higher end of the range if you're eating fats from plant sources. In other words - an avocado is not to be avoided! Nuts and seeds are excellent sources also. Hempseed is especially a nutritional powerhouse, including omegas, for instance. I would caution you non-veggies about tuna, though, I even limit it for the cats because of the contamination problem. Anyway- I have never felt good with low fat, so at least for me any low fat eating plan is not a good idea. But I've been vegetarian almost vegan for decades, so I'm not overdosing on animal fats. - 8/4/2012 2:17:30 AM

I went on a low-fat diet in the 90's when it first became popular. VERY LOW - no more than 10 grams a day. Yes, I lost the weight and kept it off for more than 5 years. I also lost my gall bladder and developed colon cancer. With information now coming out, I just have to wonder..... - 6/2/2012 8:01:22 AM

Excellent information. Fats are a necessary piece in the delicate balancing act we call macronutrients. - 5/22/2012 11:43:18 AM

This was news for me! Not all of it, though.

Thanks for a wonderfully informative article. - 4/24/2012 1:25:26 AM

I have a question about vegan diets. I know that vegan diets are not always fat free, but it kind of makes me wonder if they are all that good for you after reading this article. I don't doubt that it's better to eat more plant based diet than a meat focus.ed diet, but I guess as long as you get enough of the "good fats" you should be okay - 3/3/2012 10:13:11 PM

Fat intake really needs to be tailored to metabolic needs. Some thrive on a high-fat diet. Others should emphasize complex carbohydrates. The government's one-size fits all dietary advice is a disaster. http://freepresso
nline.net/con
tent/what-has
-government-d
one-our-health Better not to even count calories but rather eat good quality food in moderation. http://articles.l
atimes.com/20
02/mar/13/foo
d/fo-52-13 The remaining consideration is the kind of tat the food contains. http://www.susana
llport.com/ne
wsletter728511.htm You just don't want to dose yourself up on omega-6s. - 3/2/2012 7:08:53 PM

Good article. As with all things, moderation is the key. - 3/1/2012 11:53:15 AM

The key is to eat the RIGHT kinds of fat. Even vegans can eat sufficient fat if they regularly incorporate nuts, avocado, olive oil, etc. in their diets. About 35 years ago I started eating in a low-fat, low-sodium, less sugar way. I lost 90+ lbs and by keeping to this way of eating I have kept the weight off. But, I should say it is more of a "controlled fat" way of eating as I keep my fat intake @ 30% and that almost always is made up of the "healthy fats." I eat very little red meat and/or fried foods--I do have to admit that about 2X a year I enjoy a good cheeseburger, but after I eat about 1/2 of it I feel like the inside of my mouth is coated with fat! The same thing happens when I eat foods like fried chicken--I taste the fat more than the chicken, etc. (I'm so glad KFC started serving the grilled chicken--love it!) Eating a balanced diet, with the right kinds of fat, carbohydrates and protein, is the key to healthy eating. . - 3/1/2012 11:41:47 AM

Finally, an article that tells it like it is. - 3/1/2012 10:02:11 AM

I do agree with this article. I watched my mother count every gram of fat that our family ate and it took the joy out of family in many ways. It became a "god" and was horrible. It was in the 90's and my father and brothers had to sneak out to Burger King. When a diet of any kind produces the kind of turmoil that it did in my family it is wrong. Fat is not an enemy. Diets are not our "god" judging every bite. Eating the right kinds of healthy fats is the right way to go. The low fat diet was killing our family and my mother. Thank the Lord, my God that it is long over and we have moved on. - 3/1/2012 9:27:18 AM

I do not agree with this article and wonder on its credibility.
Read
Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr., M.D - 3/1/2012 8:43:34 AM

It's good to see SparkPeople (among other nutrition and health experts) continue to distance yourselves from the low-fat dogma. I know it will take time, because you have to do it without losing face or appearing to flip-flop. Good for you! - 10/11/2011 9:56:01 AM

It's nice to see that dietary fat is slowly being "rehabilitated." It's only dangerous when paired with high starch and sugar levels - then you've got a blood pressure/blood sugar bomb on your hands. Remove all the sugary starchy products and replace them with natural fats (corn oil not being one of them) and your blood pressure normalizes and cholesterol and triglyceride levels optimize. All those pre-packaged "low-fat" foods have taken out the fat and replaced them with fillers and sugar. Not exactly a good tradeoff. - 10/11/2011 9:23:09 AM

The information about vitamin absorption is so critical. We now know how very important vitamin D is so doing with less of it in our system because we are sacrificing "fat" can leave us in danger of being less healthy or even becoming ill. Good job SparkPeople! - 12/27/2010 4:40:56 PM