Since the 1970s, the official guidelines have recommended that we consume a low-fat diet. Criticism has since appeared in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," pointing out that these recommendations have not had the desired effect. The scientists point out that, since these suggestions were adopted, the incidence of obesity has tripled and diabetes has doubled. Nutritionists have also questioned the wisdom of low-fat diets, pointing out that they cause several problems in the human body.
Vitamin Deficiencies
Your body needs a range of vitamins and minerals to thrive. Nutritionists break down the vitamins into two categories; water-soluble and fat-soluble, which includes vitamins A, D, E and K. Sally Fallon, a researcher for The Weston A. Price Foundation, points out you will only find vitamins A and D in significant amounts in animal fats, one of the foods regularly absent from low-fat diets. She also notes that saturated fats improve the body's use of essential fatty acids, which help lay down calcium in the bones to prevent osteoporosis.
Increased Hunger
Another problem with low-fat diets lies in the way that individuals get hungrier faster. Dr. Joseph Mercola, a physician and the author of several books on natural health care, explains that fats slow down the digestion of other foods, leading to a slower release of nutrients and energy into the bloodstream. When you remove or restrict fats, the stomach loses its buffer and instead the high-carbohydrate foods enter the intestines, and then the bloodstream, too quickly. This causes excessively raised blood sugar levels shortly after meals and, following a release of insulin, low blood sugar levels and hunger soon after.
Fat Storage
The reduction in fat intake lends itself easily to over-consumption of carbohydrates. Dr Mercola points out that most Americans eat too much breads, pastas and cereals, which elevates blood sugar levels and causes an excessive insulin release. Insulin, a pancreatic hormone, triggers the liver into converting carbohydrates into fats to store under the skin and can lead to weight gain.
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