Cardiologist in Houston Chronicle: ‘Want a healthier heart? Eat a steak’

Last week, Houston Chronicle ran a bold opinion piece by cardiologist Bret Scher favoring low-carb diets and debunking the purported heart health risks of eating red meat. This op-ed nicely summarizes ideas that are familiar to Diet Doctor readers while it also educates a new audience: greater Houston.

Dr. Scher makes many significant points; his article is the perfect length to share with family and friends. Here are a couple of snippets:

The medical community frowns upon the kinds of saturated fats found in meat, dairy and coconut oil. The American Heart Association recommends avoiding red meat — and if people insist on eating it, they should “select the leanest cuts available.” Federal nutritional guidelines suggest that less than 10 percent of one’s daily calories come from saturated fats, while the AHA recommends even less.

These recommendations have never been supported by rigorous research. The idea that saturated fats cause heart disease stems from decades-old observational studies. […T]hese kinds of observational claims are weak science. In 2011, a comprehensive analysis of 52 separate claims made in observational studies concluded that none — that’s right, zero — could be confirmed in a clinical trial — a more rigorous type of science.[…]

In recent years, numerous teams of researchers worldwide have reviewed all the data on saturated fats — and concluded that these fats do not have any effect on cardiovascular mortality.

Have you seen Dr. Bret Scher’s name before? Perhaps! He is the host of the Diet Doctor Podcast and a contributor to our news posts. Congratulations to Bret for spreading the word in the mainstream press that low-carb diets are the best path to heart health.

Houston Chronicle: Want a healthier heart? Eat a steak

Earlier

Cardiologist in The Washington Times: ‘Carbohydrates are killing us’

Nina Teicholz in WSJ: “Carbs, good for you? Fat chance!”

‘What the Health’ review: health claims backed by no solid evidence

Guides

The science of low carb

A low-carb diet for beginners