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Saturated Fats Prevents Coronary Artery Disease

In September I posted an article from my favorite nutritional journal that debunked the prevailing myth in nearly all diet books that saturated fat is bad for you. Now a study is published that shows that eating a higher amount of saturated fat is associated with less progression of coronary artery disease. This was done by using the gold standard, quantitative angiography.

What more proof could anyone want? So please remember to use this as ammunition should someone give you a hard time when you tell them that saturated fat is actually good for you. You can also remind them of the following facts about saturated fats:

  • A major part of the phospholipid component of cell membranes
  • The preferred fuel for the heart
  • Used as a source of fuel during energy expenditure
  • Actually increases HDL concentrations
  • Modulator genetic regulation and prevent cancer (butyric acid)
  • Useful antiviral agents (caprylic acid)
  • Effective as an anticaries, antiplaque and anti fungal agents (lauric acid)
  • Useful to actually lower cholesterol levels (palmitic and stearic acids)
  • Beneficial effects on thrombogenic and atherogenic risk factors (stearic acid)

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition November 2004 80(5);1102-1103

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition November 2004 80(5);1175-1184