About my book Fat is not the Enemy

     The word fat is used to describe both a food component and excess weight in our bodies. Given the negative feelings in our society toward body fat, it is not surprising that we are ready to consider fats in food as unhealthy. Dietary fat has been a scapegoat, unfairly blamed for obesity, heart disease, and cancer. In Fat is not the Enemy, I summarize many scientific studies showing that dietary fat cannot be blamed for cancer or for obesity. In fact, fat in moderation can be a valuable component of diets for weight loss.
    Further, I explain that only certain fats promote heart disease. These bad fats are saturated fat and hydrogenated fat, found in meat, dairy, convenience and junk foods. I describe the overwhelming evidence that eating unsaturated fats actually prevents heart disease. These good fats are found in oils, nuts, fish, avocado, real mayonnaise, peanut butter, and other foods.
    Finally, I discuss the relationship between body fat and health, and describe evidence that being physically fit is more important for health than being slender, and show that being overweight is not inconsistent with being fit and healthy. I conclude that the best strategy for health is not to obsess on losing weight or on cutting fat out of the diet. Rather, I recommend maximizing intake of healthy fats and being as active as possible.
    “Fat is not the Enemy” is based on the results of hundreds of scientific studies that have been published over the past few decades. As a scientist who has conducted research on fat metabolism and heart disease, but who has no professional stake in any particular nutrition “camp”, I have been able to critically read the scientific literature and to reach my own conclusions about fats and health. My premise will not be a surprise to everyone. Most of what I say agrees well with the current dietary recommendations of American Heart Association.
    I propose that by concentrating on eating more of foods containing the good fats, people will not only lower their risk of developing heart disease, but will be able to better regulate their weight on a long term basis.    

Links to Excerpt Pages

Contents

Introduction
Chapter one Calories, not fat, make people fat
Chapter two    Fitness is as important as fatness
Chapter three   Heart disease, diabetes, and fat
Chapter four   Eating fat does not cause cancer
Chapter five   Good fat, bad fat
Chapter six   What are saturated and unsaturated fats?
Chapter seven   Oils are good for you
Chapter eight   All about cholesterol
Chapter nine    Watch out for rancid fats
Chapter ten    What about antioxidants?
Chapter eleven   Help with hypoglycemia
Chapter twelve    Achieving good health by integrating fat wisely

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