A Low Fat Diet is Not the AnswerSince fat is your enemy, it would seem logical that a low fat diet would be the solution. Not so! This was the mistake we made in the 1990’s when fat was targeted as the obvious enemy. The Pritkin DietThe Pritkin Diet is almost vegetarian. It calls for large amounts of whole wheat grains and vegetables, is very high in fiber, extremely low in total fat and low in cholesterol.The benefits of eating less fat and more grains are well known and have value in the prevention of many degenerate diseases. This diet does produce the expected weight loss in the short term and it does lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, diets extremely low in fat can be unsatisfying over time and fail to supply sufficient levels of the essential omega-3 fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E and K) that are contained in a regular diet. The Ornish DietThe Ornish Diet is also almost entirely vegetarian. It excludes cooking oils and animal products except non-fat milk and yogurt. It avoids chicken and fish and high-fat plant foods such as avocados, seeds and nuts.These diets were on the right track but since then it has become clear that a diet low in fat is not always the answer. In countries where low fat intake is common, there still exists a weight problem. There is also evidence indicating diets that are very low in fat can result in nutrient inadequacies. Top of page
A Low Fat Diet is Not the Answer
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