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Other scientists around the globe are just beginning to dabble with polyunsaturates, with some encouraging initial findings. Doctors in England report using a diet high in essential fatty acids to calm hyperactive children, and there are documented cases of polyunsaturates helping people who suffer from arthritis, allergies and multiple sclerosis.

While the research continues, the best approach is one of moderation. Says Dr. Lewis, “The biggest mistake people could make is to assume that radically increasing their intake of polyunsaturates will help even more. Fats are fats, regardless of the type, and you should cut back wherever possible. If you have to use a fat, make sure it’s a polyunsaturate.”

In general, only about 30 percent of daily calories should come from fat; of that 30 percent, at least 10 percent should be polyunsaturates to counteract the 10 percent saturated fats that you’re bound to ingest.

The remaining 10 percent should be monounsaturates, the beneficial fats that were previously thought to be neutral. “Our initial research shows that monounsaturates may be just as effective at lowering blood cholesterol,” says Fred Mattson, Ph.D., professor of medicine and former head of the lipid research clinic at the University of California at San Diego. “Monounsaturates may even be more beneficial because they don’t lower HDL cholesterol levels like excessive polyunsaturates do. But people shouldn’t worry about getting enough because a normal diet usually supplies all that are needed.”

The best thing about all of the good fats is that they can be had without having to stare at a bland, lifeless dinner plate. Substitution is the word for the day.

“You can easily make subtle, what I call passive, changes in the way you prepare foods that may make a difference in long-range health,” says R. Curtis Ellison, M.D., professor of  medicine and pediatrics at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, in Worcester.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 at 12:49 am and is filed under Nutritional Healing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.