New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Recognize Role of Good and Bad Fats

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New U.S. Dietary Guidelines Recognize Role of Good and Bad Fats JoAnn Guest

Apr 15, 2005 20:34 PDT

01/26/2005

 

PETALUMA, Calif. (January 26, 2005) - While the new 2005 U.S. Dietary

Guidelines take significant steps toward recognizing the importance of

consuming healthful fats, including polyunsaturated and monounsaturated

fats, and avoiding 'bad' fats including trans fats and saturated fats,

and cholesterol, they are missing important distinctions in the amounts

of specific fats to consume.

 

'The recently released guidelines correctly identify that Americans

consume too much saturated and trans fat and not enough monounsaturated

fat,' says Richard Delany, M.D., F.A.C.C., founder of Personalized

Preventive Medicine in Milton, Mass.

 

'In fact, evidence points to the fact that trans fats may be harmful

enough to be totally eliminated from the diet.

 

Additionally, the new guidelines fail to educate Americans more

completely about the two types of polyunsaturated fats (omega-6 and

omega-3) and the significant dietary imbalance that exists for these two

essential fatty acids.

 

Quite simply, we're eating too much omega-6 and not nearly enough

omega-3 fatty acids.'

 

Among key recommendations regarding fats, the 2005 U.S. Dietary

Guidelines advise adults to keep total fat intake between 20 to 35

percent of calories, with most fats coming from sources of

polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, such as fish, nuts and

vegetable oils. Americans are also advised to consume less than 10

percent of calories from saturated fatty acids and to keep trans fat

consumption as low as possible.

 

'Yes, Americans should reduce their saturated fat and trans fat intake

and increase their monounsaturated fat intake.

 

But, the fact is that most Americans also consume too much omega-6 fat

and not enough omega-3 fatty acids,' says Dr. Delany.

 

'This dietary fat imbalance has been shown to contribute to the

occurrence of chronic diseases including depression, atherosclerosis,

Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit disorder, arthritis, and some

cancers, specifically prostate and breast, as well as sudden death due

to coronary heart disease.'

 

According to Dr. Delany, the current dietary ratio of omega-6 to omega-3

is approximately 20:1. 'It should be closer to 4:1, with 2:1 being the

ideal ratio,' he says. 'The current guidelines incorrectly lead one to

believe that increasing any type of polyunsaturated fat is advisable.

 

A more complete explanation would help guide Americans to decrease their

consumption of excess omega-6 fats (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid),

to consume some healthy omega-6 fat (GLA, from borage oil or evening

primrose oil), and to consume omega-3 fats (ALA, EPA, DHA) on a daily

basis.'

 

Sources of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids include ground flaxseed and

flaxseed oil, and to a lesser degree organic canola oil, walnuts and

walnut oil, and certain vegetables. Marine sources include certain fatty

fish such as salmon, sardines and mackerel.

Omega-6 sources are plentiful in the standard American diet as they

include margarine and vegetable oils such as soybean, corn and

cottonseed oils.

 

Monounsaturated fats come from foods including olives and olive oil,

canola and peanut oils, avocado and avocado oil, and high-oleic

sunflower oil, as well as organic peanuts, cashews and almonds.

 

'We have a nation of overweight and obese people who are suffering

because of the poor fats in their diet. A simple change in their diet

could lead to a much healthier life,' Delany concludes.

 

For more information see www.spectrumorganics.com

 

Spectrum Organic Products Inc. (OTCBB-SPOP), the leading manufacturer

and marketer of organic and natural oils and condiments in North

America, was founded in 1986. Today, the company sells more than 175

products under the Spectrum Naturals® and Spectrum Essentials® brands.

Institutional sizes are available through its Spectrum Ingredients®

division. For more information, visit www.spectrumorganics.com.

 

'Safe Harbor' Statements under the Private Securities Act of 1995: The

statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts,

are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that

could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth or

implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks are described in

SPOP's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

 

Content provided by Compass Natural Marketing, Boulder, CO,

www.compassnaturalmarketing.com.

_________________

JoAnn Guest

mrsjo-

DietaryTi-

www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest/Genes

 

 

 

 

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