TV nutritionist Dale Pinnock has dedicated his life to the role of nutrition in healthcare. And one of the key areas the Medicinal Chef says comes back time and time again is the real effect fat has on the heart. But while many people would give an instant negative response it appears there is more to it.
The expert, who shared his meal recipes on shows including Eat Shop Save, says emerging research has raised questions on traditionally held beliefs. Writing on his website he said: "The traditional view posited that all fats, particularly saturated fats, were detrimental to heart health. However, emerging research suggests the relationship between dietary fat and cardiovascular health is more nuanced, depending on the type of fat, the overall dietary context, and individual health conditions.
" And he said some research was coming up with "surprising and controversial" findings. This included on areas ranging from saturated fat to Omega 3 and trans fats. He said this might not be as straightforward as it was originally thought.
He said while it had been the "dietary devil for decades" diets such as the Atkins and keto plans allow followers to "consume in abandon" and seem to have branded it as "completely harmless". He said: "Well, contrary to long-standing beliefs, recent studies indicate that saturated fat may not be as problematic for cardiovascular health when consumed as part of a low-carbohydrate diet." He said the PURE study, which looked at people from across the worl.