from Journal of the American Medical Association
By the end of this year the federal government will write new Dietary Guidelines for Americans and an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association urges the government to drop restrictions on total fat consumption in the new guidelines. Current guidelines say no more than thirty-five percent of daily calories should come from fat. However, the article says placing limits on total fat intake has no basis in science and leads to all sorts of wrong decisions. Evidence clearly shows eating more foods rich in healthful fats like nuts, vegetable oils and fish have protective effects. But many low-fat foods like low-fat deli meats, fat-free salad dressings and baked potato chips are no better and in some cases worse than full-fat alternatives. It’s the food that matters, not its fat content.