Recommendations

Question 1

What does the UK Government’s SACN Review (2019) recommend about saturated fats?

Answer 1

Saturated fats should not exceed 10% of total energy intake.

Question 2

What does the Eatwell Guide recommend regarding fat intake?

Answer 2

The Eatwell Guide advises to:

• Choose low-fat dairy options.
• Choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and consume them in small amounts.

Question 3

What is the concern with low-fat dairy and unsaturated oils?

Answer 3

Low-fat dairy options often contain high levels of sugar, and unsaturated oils may be highly refined and contain trans fats.

Question 4

What was the impact of past dietary guidelines recommending low-fat diets?

Answer 4

Low-fat diets led to fat being replaced with refined carbohydrates and sugar, causing issues with satiety and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods.

Question 5

What did the PURE study (2017) find about fat and carbohydrate intake?

Answer 5

The PURE study found that high carbohydrate diets led to the highest mortality rates, while people consuming 35% of their daily energy from fat had a lower risk of mortality compared to those consuming 10%.