New Delhi: Non-vegetarian food in the form of chicken, fish, beef and pork is often seen as the sole source of proteins and vitamin B12, nutrients that cannot be obtained easily through dietary sources. However, there are more risks involved than benefits – according to nutrition experts, red meat has saturated fats in large quantities which can be life-threatening in a long run. Excessive intake of saturated fat targets the heart and raises risk of high cholesterol, hypertension and in a long run, this may even cause heart attack or a stroke.
To understand the effects of animal fat, especially when combined with sugar, News9Live interacted with cardiologists to know the long term effects of this combination of unhealthy ingredients.
Dr. Amit Vij, Senior Consultant, ShardaCare – Healthcity, said “Consuming animal fats can have a variety of long-term health impacts, especially when combined with sugar and fish oil. While fish oil is usually linked to positive effects on inflammation and heart health, animal fats are frequently high in saturated fats, which can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease. polyunsaturated fats, such as those found in fish oil, can mitigate some risks associated with saturated fats, aiding in cholesterol management. Research indicates that replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fats might reduce cardiovascular disease risk. In the long run, diets rich in animal fats combined with high sugar intake can lead to serious consequences, including obesity, insulin resistance, and chronic inflammation, which are precursors to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Replacing saturated fat intake with healthier fats can significantly lower the risk of heart disease”.
Dr. Subhendu Mohanty, Senior Consultant of Cardiology, ShardaCare- Healthcity, spoke about the side effects when such foods are consumed in excess and mindlessly.
“Animal fats are rich in triglycerides and saturated fat which are not good for health. Large amounts of these fat can lead to increase in blood cholesterol levels which in turn can lead to development of blockages in the heart and other organs. Animal fats have high high boiling point which makes them a good option for deep frying, but in large amounts, they are proven to be harmful. Fish oil, on the contrary, are rich in omega 3 fatty acids. These are helpful in increasing the good cholesterol levels in the blood which protects against heart attacks and blockages. In fact, fish oil is very commonly suggested as a food supplement and can be taken even by the very young,” said Dr Mohanty.
Dr. Manish Bharti, Senior Consultant, HOD and Interventional Intensivist- ShardaCare- Healthcity, commented on the inflammation aspect.
“Conditions including arthritis, some types of cancer, and neurological disorders like Alzheimer’s have been associated with chronic inflammation induced by these subset of fats. Over time, animal fat can also affect liver function since it requires more effort from the liver to digest high fat levels, which can result in fatty liver disease, and inflammation in the liver (steatohepatitis),” said Dr Bharti.
Foods high in saturated fats
Some of the worst foods with the highest saturated fat content are:
Pork
Beef
Lamb
Butter
Ice cream
Processed cheese
Tallow – beef fat
Coconut
Palm oil
Baked food
Fried food
Animal fats are rich in triglycerides and saturated fat which are not good for health. Large amounts of these fat can lead to increase in blood cholesterol levels which in turn can lead to development of blockages in the heart and other organs. Health News Health News: Latest News from Health Care, Mental Health, Weight Loss, Disease, Nutrition, Healthcare
