We've been told to limit the amount of saturated fat, sugar and sodium that we eat, but we've received conflicting messages on the harm of these substances.
In the 70's, saturated fat was considered public enemy number one. The food industry responded with a host of fat free products. In order to make these products palatable, they substituted saturated fat with sugar, and tons of it. From the 70's onwards, there was a huge spike in metabolic diseases and death due to heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes etc. In hindsight, we now know why. It turns out that sugar is the major cause of all disease, not saturated fat.
Saturated fat has been relieved of its evil label, and is now not believed to play any role in the development of heart disease or strokes. Similarly, sodium was until very recently one of the demonized white powders that was thought to contribute to high blood pressure, resulting in heart attacks and stroke. Now it's believed that sugar is actually the white powder that contributes to high blood pressure. The confusion arose due to the fact that many of the sodium laden processed foods that we eat are laced with sugar as well.
When you consume a big mac meal, it now seems evident that the worst part of the meal is the sugary coke, instead of the saturated fat filled big mac. If you must eat a big mac, skip the coke, and have water instead.
In the 70's, saturated fat was considered public enemy number one. The food industry responded with a host of fat free products. In order to make these products palatable, they substituted saturated fat with sugar, and tons of it. From the 70's onwards, there was a huge spike in metabolic diseases and death due to heart attack, stroke, cancer, diabetes etc. In hindsight, we now know why. It turns out that sugar is the major cause of all disease, not saturated fat.
Saturated fat has been relieved of its evil label, and is now not believed to play any role in the development of heart disease or strokes. Similarly, sodium was until very recently one of the demonized white powders that was thought to contribute to high blood pressure, resulting in heart attacks and stroke. Now it's believed that sugar is actually the white powder that contributes to high blood pressure. The confusion arose due to the fact that many of the sodium laden processed foods that we eat are laced with sugar as well.
When you consume a big mac meal, it now seems evident that the worst part of the meal is the sugary coke, instead of the saturated fat filled big mac. If you must eat a big mac, skip the coke, and have water instead.