Good news for those who love carbohydrates and don't care too much about avoiding saturated fat.
According to extensive Australian research, they protect against the risk of suffering a heart attack.
The Monash University of Melbourne study, published in the British Medical Journal, of 10,000 Australian women who were followed for 15 years and whose carbohydrate consumption made up 41 to 44% of the diet revealed that they had a lower risk of heart disease compared to those who consumed lower levels of carbohydrates.
The study adds to growing evidence that 'historic' health advice that focuses on avoiding saturated fat is misleading. "Perhaps - writes Sarah Zaman of the University's Cardiovascular Research Center - we have demonized saturated fat a little too much. Now we have evidence that there is no detectable link with heart disease." Women whose diets contained between 41 and 44 percent carbohydrates had a 44 percent reduced chance of cardiovascular disease.
Those who ate a very high or low proportion of carbohydrates had less good health. Eating moderate amounts of carbohydrates carries a 79% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and 86 to 99% lower risk of hypertension and obesity. The findings contradict much of the historical epidemiological research that supported a link between saturated fat and cardiovascular disease. On the contrary, the results confirm recent meta-analyzes, according to which saturated fats have no significant relationship with total mortality or cardiovascular disease. While the cause of this inconsistency in the medical literature is unclear, past studies are speculated to have overlooked the role of fibers that help prevent plaque build-up in arteries.
"The evidence indicates that we should focus less on specific nutrients and more on diet as a whole," adds Zaman.
"The best diet is one that incorporates whole grains, vegetables and fruits, healthy proteins such as fish, legumes, nuts and seeds, unflavoured milk and yoghurt. We still recommend focusing on healthy fat choices."
(HANDLE).
