Supportive research findings
This review conducted by researchers from the Atherosclerosis Research Program, Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, in Oakland (California), reminds us that when SFAs are replaced by polyunsaturated fatty acids, a reduction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is observed, whereas there is no benefit, or even increased risk, when SFAs are replaced by carbohydrates, especially sugar.
Foods rather than nutrients
In particular, they draw attention to the fact that there is growing evidence that SFAs in the context of dairy foods, particularly fermented dairy products, have neutral or inverse associations with CVD. They estimate that the recommendations for heart-healthy eating should be expressed in terms of foods, favoring vegetables, fish, nuts and whole versus processed grains, rather than focusing on the macronutrient content.
