During the 80s low fat diets were all the rage, but given the current state of America’s obesity epidemic, like most other fad diets, it didn’t get us very far.  Well, recent research published this month in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has shed some light as to why this might be.

Researchers from the Institute of Metabolic Science, in Cambridge, U.K. found that the ratio of calories from fat versus protein or carbohydrates, had no impact on how much weight they gained in the coming years.

The study looked at data on nearly 90,000 men and women from six different countries participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Study. Participants were followed for up to 10 years.  Calories from fat ranged from 31.5 to 36.5 percent of total intake and individuals gained about ¼ of a pound each year but with no relationship to the amount of fat consumed.

A common myth that I diligently work to debunk is that nuts, like pistachios, are “fattening” because of their high fat content.  This study adds to the growing body of research that shows eating pistachios, despite their high fat intake (90 percent of which is healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats) is associated with a lower body mass index. 

So let’s add this to the list of trends from the 80s that should be left behind and focus on eating foods in their more natural state by including a variety of fruits, vegetables, lean sources of protein including nuts like pistachios and whole grains.

Kelly Plowe, MS, RD

Although she still remains a Boston sports fan, Kelly has changed her east-coast ways, adapting to the California lifestyle.