Saturated Fat and Heart Disease
Have you seen the latest Wall Street Journal article about saturated fat and heart disease? The Questionable Link Between Saturated Fat and Heart Disease criticizes the science behind recommendations to reduce saturated fat consumption and questions the connection between saturated fat and heart disease.Since this article flies in the face of so much nutrition science and reputable data, we turned to James J. Kenney, PhD, FACN, for his opinion. You probably won't be surprised to learn that he has some serious concerns about the credibility of the data...
There are 100+ years of research linking dietary saturated fat and cholesterol with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis. Although "Ms. Teicholz has been researching dietary fat and disease for nearly a decade," the evidence indicates that she was not trained in nutrition science or medicine. In fact, her research appears to consist largely of references to blogs that are not scientifically sound. Plus, many of the studies she cites cannot be considered free of bias, since they were funded by organizations like the Cattleman's Association, the American Egg Board, and the Dairy Council. These studies were often performed by MDs with little or no training in nutrition science. Given the sources, it seems that there was an inability to properly evaluate credible scientific evidence and theories concerning the impact of fatty animal products on promoting atherosclerosis and other diseases.
For more insight into the veracity and credibility of the data, check out the detailed breakdown of each of Ms. Teicholz's points by Drs. Chowdhury and DiNicolantionio.And for a more credible way to stay up-to-date on the latest nutrition and disease research, check out Dr. Kenney's amazing continuing professional education (CPE) courses. All courses are approved for CPE credit for members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), formerly the American Dietetic Association (RDs and DTRs), and Dietitians of Canada (you must submit your completed CPE hours to the professional licensing body in your provence). Physician's assistants can use these nutrition courses towards their CME Level 2 education and ISSA Personal Trainers can use our courses for additional fee petition items.CPE course topics include...
- Diet and Cardiovascular Disease: An Overview
- Is CRP A Better Predictor of Heart Attack Risk than Serum Cholesterol?
- Diet, Hypertension, and Salt Toxicity
- Food Label Law and Business Development for the Food and Nutrition Professional
- Diet and Type 2 Diabetes
- Fiber, Fruits, Vegetables and the Risk of Colon Cancer
- App Class for Nutrition and Health Educators
And much, much more!Plus, there are always great nutrition education materials available in the store. Some of the most popular resources include...
