High Fat = Inflammation!: In China the... - British Heart Fou...

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High Fat = Inflammation!

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star
23 Replies

In China the diet is changing from the traditional low fat, high carb one to one lower in carbs and higher in fats. Because high fat is linked with adverse changes to gut bacteria and a rise in inflammatory triggers a study was carried out in China of healthy 18 to 35 year olds of normal weight. They were put into three groups with protein and fibre intake kept constant. The volunteers were split into three groups with fat forming 20%, 30% and 40% of energy intake.

Whilst the overall amount of gut bacteria did not change over six months the number of beneficial bacteria had increased in the low fat group whilst in the high fat group they had decreased while the unhelpful bacteria, often found in Type 2 diabetics, had increased. The high fat diet also showed potentially detrimental changes in long chain fatty acid metabolism causing an increase in the chemicals that are linked to inflammation.

This research appears in the Spring 2019 issue of Optimum Nutrition

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MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJH
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23 Replies
JonathanH profile image
JonathanH

Michael, do you know what the fat was (saturated or unsaturated)?

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toJonathanH

As Chappychap mentions the main source of fat was soybean oil. It had the following composition per100 gm: 16 g of saturated fat, 23 g of monounsaturated fat, and 58 g of polyunsaturated fat. So the answer is both in fact.

Chappychap profile image
Chappychap

An interesting article, thanks for posting.

I've read the article and it emphasised that the main source of fat was soybean oil. So much so that you could argue the research was really looking at soybean oil more than a high/low fat diet.

The article also points out that soybean oil has previously been associated in other studies with an increase in inflammation, and a 2015 study in mice found soybean oil up regulated genes associated with diabetes, cancer, inflammation and obesity.

fergusthegreat profile image
fergusthegreat

So all the study actually proves is don't eat soyabean oil!

I thought current research supports the theory that high intake of simple carbohydrate drove high blood sugar and inflammation.

No wonder people don't trust dietry advice. Every week a different theory.

I consume olive oil daily as it's been shown to reduce cardiac markers for heart disease but that's probably bloody wrong as well.

fergusthegreat profile image
fergusthegreat

Soyabean oil is 51% omega 6 fatty acid and only 7% omega 3 that's why it's inflammatory and people are getting fatter and sicker because they are consuming far to much omega 6 mainly from eating foods produced using vegetable oils like soyabean e.g fried food, cakes, biscuits etc

cachaciero profile image
cachaciero in reply tofergusthegreat

Hmmm..... Soya bean the vast majority of Soya used in China is imported from the USA and Brazil so you can be sure that the original bean was GMO modified not sure what the implications of that are, not good I suspect. As some one else said all this does is to suggest that eating / using large quantities of Soya should be avoided.....moderation in all things.

Healthyheart1 profile image
Healthyheart1

What should we be using, I'm so fed up with all the different advice. I need to lose weight. I'm 12 stone 6 and 5ft 2. Since having my angina my exercise levels have plummeted to nothing. All because of my high levels of tiredness because I'm not able to walk/exercise much because of the pain from angina. I'm working two days a week it kicks my but and I'm knackered after, I've got zero motivation. Anyway off to work. Sorry for changing the subject and I know weight loss is on another forum. Regards Sheena 😣

elliebath profile image
elliebath in reply toHealthyheart1

Hi Sheena. Pop over to the Health Unlocked Weightloss forum. No gimmicks, just good food and we're a really friendly supportive bunch. Our aim is simply to be (and stay) slim and healthy. I have angina too so I know what you mean, but it can be done!😊

Healthyheart1 profile image
Healthyheart1 in reply toelliebath

Thankyou!!

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toHealthyheart1

Most GPs are able to prescribe a 12 week WW or Slimming World course to kick start things off. Good luck!

Healthyheart1 profile image
Healthyheart1 in reply toMichaelJH

I'm on slimming world , it isn't suiting me I have had problems with indigestion, swelling stomach and cant go to the loo. Waiting for the camera down and a scan. Probably too much information I know. Just need to be put in a bag and shaken up that might do the trick. Thanks to everyone for their helpful comments and links.

in reply toHealthyheart1

My personal beliefs are trying to stick to foods in their most natural forms, heavy on the fruits/ veggies. I see an intragrative doc and he is all about 75% of my plate needs to be veggies, and 20-30 grams of lean protein per meal, intermittent fasting( dont eat 12-16 hours of a 24 hr period) and no eating 3 hr before bed. I try to limit my meals to eating between 9 am and 5-6 pm, its not too hard.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toHealthyheart1

One benefit of WW and Slimming World is that they bring in a degree of competitiveness. People love to be "Slimmer of the Week" and/or beat others. It is very noticeable amongst men - witness the "how fast we were" the other day!

Healthyheart1 profile image
Healthyheart1 in reply toMichaelJH

I'm still paying and attending because I like to stay to group and get tips and ideas.

Bicyclist profile image
Bicyclist

That report was pointless. When oils like soya are heated they have an adverse effect on the body. Good fats like avacado, olive oil, coconut oil (which is stable at high temps) are good for you, cutting carbs, which raise insulin and eating good fats is the best way to lose weight and improve your health. Plenty of green leafy veg also.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply toBicyclist

Not totally pointless nor perfect either. What I think it points to is that a LCHF diet is flawed. I did read an article on how the benefits of the Mediterranean diet were twisted into a LCHF format. Much dietary information is "smoke and mirrors"!

COYW profile image
COYW

Thanks for posting Michael. I wonder why the people who carried out the research which will have cost a lot of cash, didn’t have the same concerns about using soya oil? If we know it then they will too? So why spend cash on what might be flawed outcomes? Unless it was funded by statin investors?

COYW profile image
COYW

Sure, but my question is why the researchers don’t know that?

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

I neither eat low carb or high carb. As a Type I diabetic I have carb counted all my life. As mentioned in other posts I was in my younger days on 250 gm CHO per day. I have reduced this over the years to 120 - 130 gm per day. Lower intakes such as below 100 gm cause ketosis which cause muscle cramps and other symptoms. Maybe that is MC (medium carb).

Healthyheart1 profile image
Healthyheart1

I have an underactive thyroid. I see I'm going to have to study eating correctly to avoid inflammation and weight gain oh and also weight loss😣

COYW profile image
COYW

I'm an education researcher and I understand the way research outcomes might be skewed by funding but I don't believe all research in the field of heart disease and nutrition is unethically skewed. The challenge for all of us is to understand the contexts of any research as fully as possible without being too quick to dismiss a view on the basis of other 'proof' which might be equally skewed.

Jack2019 profile image
Jack2019

U.S. cash crops, corn, soya and wheat. Big money crops requires big favourable research studies to find their "benefits". If the us had olive, coconut and avocado crops nation wide that's what we would be told to choose. My opinion only!

COYW profile image
COYW

I’m asking a reasonable question. I don’t expect sarcasm here. I certainly don’t expect a self righteous comment about my heart. You can keep that to yourself.

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