Eschewing The Fat

While most people would benefit from a more plant-based diet, there are those who go further and advocate vegetarianism, with fat restricted to 10% of daily calories. This approach is based on the results gained from studies conducted among patients with established severe coronary artery disease who have sought to reverse their disease through dietary regulation.

Whether such stringent requirements are necessary for the general population seems unlikely. Over the past decade, there has already been a significant decrease in the prevalence of heart disease in North America as a result of very modest lifestyle changes.

As an alternative, lowering the average daily fat intake from the current 40% to 20-25% would undoubtedly reduce the incidence of coronary disease and aid in the prevention of many cancers. Such fat levels permit great flexibility in the inclusion of poultry, seafood and lean meats in a diet, helping people maintain their diet resolutions.

For example, rural societies in Asia commonly stir-fry fish and meat (in small quantities) with vegetables in their plant-based diets. Not coincidentally, these societies have practically no coronary heart disease.

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