Sir, – The acknowledgement by dietician Paula Mee ( Health & Family, December 9th) that dietary saturated fats do not belong to the class of “bad fats” is a timely and welcome reversal of long-standing anti-fat, anti-cholesterol dogma.
Fearsome warnings about the “cholesterol-raising” potential of saturated fats fail to recognise the scientifically proven heart-healthy properties of saturated fats such as butter, eggs, cheese, animal fats and tropical oils.
These health-supporting fats have been vilified for many years by supporters of the traditional food pyramid, the observance of which has served to promote an excess of carbohydrate consumption, and a minimal intake of saturated fats.
The folly of this advice is evident in our visible escalation of obesity, diabetes and heart disease over the past decade.
The real culprits underlying our present explosion of chronic disease are commercially produced trans-fats, processed polyunsaturated fats, and an excess of carbohydrates and sugar intake, all ubiquitous in the traditional dietary habits of our nation. To confuse these unhealthy fats with saturated fats serves to mislead the public in matters of healthy dietary choices.
The acknowledgement by a leading dietician that our traditional food policy has long been misguided is refreshingly welcome, and can only serve the best health interests of our nation.– Yours, etc,
DR NEVILLLE S WILSON,
Maynooth, Co Kildare.