| A national study recently revealed telling | | | | Women's Health Initiative experts, however, |
| facts regarding low-fat diets and their | | | | noted that a number of low-fat diet |
| benefits relating to cancer and heart | | | | participants did not meet the 20% fat intake |
| disease. A study concluded by the Women's | | | | goal. In a recent news report released from |
| Health Initiative (WHI) and Stanford | | | | Stanford University, experts conveyed that |
| University noted that a low-fat diet, alone, | | | | women who wish to maintain their health |
| is not enough to greatly reduce the risk of | | | | should consider a diet that is both low in |
| heart disease and/or cancer in adult women. | | | | saturated and trans fats while being rich in |
| Researchers have found that a reduction in | | | | fiber and vegetables. This diet would |
| saturated and trans fats may provide more | | | | replace one that is geared solely toward the |
| positive results. | | | | intake of low-fat foods. |
| | | | |
| The study showed that women who participate | | | | "Just switching to low-fat foods is not |
| in a low-fat diet experienced a 9% reduction | | | | likely to yield much health benefit in most |
| in the development of breast cancer. In | | | | women," commented Marcia Stefanick, PhD, |
| addition, no significant changes were noted | | | | professor of medicine at the Stanford |
| in the occurrence of heart disease. An | | | | Prevention Research Center and chair of the |
| impressive 49,000 females, ranging in age | | | | Women's Health Initiative steering committee. |
| from 50 to 79, participated in what is known | | | | "Rather than trying to eat low-fat, women |
| as the America's largest long-term study of a | | | | should focus on reducing saturated fats and |
| low-fat diet to ever be noted. The research | | | | trans fats." |
| was conducted over a period of eight years, | | | | |
| in which the experts planned to test the | | | | In addition to any diet program, regular |
| theory that low-fat diets were helpful in | | | | exercise and health screenings should be used |
| reducing the risk of heart disease and | | | | for early detection and the most effective |
| cancer. | | | | treatment. |
| | | | |
| Among the 49,000 subjects, 40% were assigned | | | | The information in this article is intended |
| to a low-fat diet, which required that they | | | | for informational purposes only. It should |
| reduce their fat intake to 20% of their total | | | | not be considered as, or used in place of, |
| calorie intake. In addition, they were to | | | | medical advice or professional |
| eat fruits and vegetables on five or more | | | | recommendations for diet and/or exercise |
| instances throughout the day, along with six | | | | regimens. Every individual should consult |
| servings of grain. The remaining 60% of | | | | his/her physician prior to beginning any |
| participants were designated as the | | | | program consisting of diet and/or exercise. |
| comparison group and were instructed to | | | | |
| maintain their eating habits as always. | | | | Find more on 1200 calorie diet, Gall Bladder |
| | | | diet and diverticulitis diet on CareJournal. |