New Study Highlights the Importance of Good Dietary Fats

Not all types of dietary fat are the same. There are several different types of food-based fat, some of which are better for your health than others. A new study, in fact, has found a correlation between the type of fat a person consumes and his or her risk of stroke. If you're looking to lower your risk of stroke, you should focus on choosing the right type of fat for your diet.

About the Study

For the study, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health analyzed the health data of over 110,000 U.S. adults. They found that participants who consumed mostly animal-based fat had the highest risk of stroke, whereas participants who consumed mostly plant-based fat had the lowest risk of stroke.

Animal- vs Plant-Based Fat

While there are several types of fat, they all come from either animal or plant sources. Common types of animal-based fat include saturated fat and trans fat. Common types of plant-based fat, on the other hand, include monosaturated fat and polysaturated fat.

According to the study, including more plant-based fat and less animal-based fat in your diet can lower your risk of stroke.

"If everyone could make small modifications such as reducing red and processed meat intake, the implication for public health will be huge," said the study's lead author and researcher.

Why Plant-Based Fat Is Good for Your Heart

Different types of fat have different effects on the body as well as the heart. The problem with animal-based fat is that it contributes to higher blood cholesterol levels when consumed. Animal-based fat like saturated fat encourages the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, which of course can lead to stroke. Plant-based fat has the opposite effect. When consumed, it helps to remove cholesterol from the arteries while subsequently lowering the risk of stroke.