The right type of fat can be good for your heart health

When we think of fat, we don’t think of the healthy types found in avocados and oily fish. Most of the time we think of french fries and high cholesterol, the fats that contribute to a host of diseases and ailments. But a new study found a different type of fat that is good for our heart.

According to the study presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2021, vegetable fats are able to lower the risk of stroke. Researchers found that people who consumed the most of these fats suffer 12% fewer strokes than those who consumed the least of them.

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These fats are found in vegetable oils like sunflower and corn and are in contrast to animal fats like red meat, which have often increased the risk of stroke.

“Our results show that the type of fat and the various dietary sources of fat are more important than the total amount of dietary fat in preventing cardiovascular disease including stroke,” said Fenglei Wang, PhD, lead author of the study.

The researchers were able to track the different types of fats people consumed by asking them to fill out a questionnaire. There was 27 years of follow-up, which resulted in a long study with thousands of participants. Key findings from the study include that participants who ate more animal fats were more likely to have strokes, and fats that were found in dairy products were not associated with an increased risk of stroke.

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While fat should always be monitored, it should not be ignored as it is a very important part of our diet and helps us absorb nutrients and vitamins.

Studies like this are always interesting and help us better understand our body and how it works. Still, we should always prioritize healthy eating, putting plant-based proteins first, and limiting the processed fats we consume.