Effect of Fat on Our Heart and Pancreas

Effect of Fat on Our Heart and Pancreas

Saturated fats and persistently high cholesterol levels are linked to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.

Heart

The risk of developing atherosclerosis increases as the total cholesterol levels increase. Atherosclerosis can affect the arteries that supply blood to the heart causing coronary artery disease or affect the arteries that supply blood to the brain causing cerebrovascular disease. Even the arteries that supply blood to the rest of the body can be affected causing peripheral arterial disease. Therefore having a high cholesterol level also increases the risk of having heart attack and stroke. The risk of heart attack increases drastically when the total blood cholesterol level reaches up to 300mg/dl. Everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured periodically. It's recommended that the cholesterol levels stay below 200 mg/dl. The level for LDL cholesterol should be less than 100mg/dl in the blood because it is the causative factor for heart problems.

Studies state that the increasing incidences of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) in many newly industrialized countries is due to increased consumption of saturated fat and cholesterol, low intake of PUFA and increasing obesity.

Pancreas

Eating too much saturated fat may result in adult-onset diabetes. Carrying large amounts of body fat has been linked to insulin resistance which is the pre-diabetic stage. Research shows that substituting unsaturated vegetable fats for saturated fats significantly decreases the risk for diabetes. A recent study on diet and insulin resistance states that imbalanced diets consisting of high intake of carbohydrates, omega-6 fats, and saturated fats, and low intake of omega-3 fats and fiber and subclinical inflammation contribute to high prevalence of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus in south Asians and Asian Indians.

Obesity

Due to excess intake of harmful fats (saturated fats and trans fats) in the average urban Indian's diet, most of the Indians tend to become overweight. Eating too many calories in the form of saturated fat and cholesterol can lead to rapid weight gain. Obesity being the prime cause for most conditions further leads to metabolic syndrome, diabetes, heart attack, and arthritis. According to a study, restricted fat consumption to no more than 30 percent of total calories with favored PUFA intake facilitates better appetite regulation and changes in features of metabolic syndrome.

Over the years numerous studies have exposed the dangers of saturated fats and excess cholesterol consumption. But removing them from your diet can be very difficult in practice.

References:

1. Kuller LH. Nutrition, Lipids, and cardiovascular Disease. Nutrition Reviews. February 2006; 64(2) : S 15 - S26
2. Isharwal S, Misra A, Wasir J.S, Nigam P. Indian J Med Res. May 2009; 129:485 � 499
3. Abete A, Astrup A, Martinez JA, Thorsdottir I, Zulet MA. Nutrition Reviews. April 2010; 68(4) : 191 � 255

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