Elsevier

Medical Hypotheses

Volume 49, Issue 3, September 1997, Pages 247-261
Medical Hypotheses

Balanced intakes of natural triglycerides for optimum nutrition: an evolutionary and phytochemical perspective

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0306-9877(97)90210-3Get rights and content

Abstract

Natural whole foods contain fats as structural components, and have a balance of polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, and saturated fat. Since we are still a Paleolithic species, adapted to eating only wild foods, it is difficult to justify the consumption of anything other than an overall balance of trig lyceride/phospholipid types in an evolutionary sense. No natural fats are intrinsically good or bad — it is the proportions that matter. Variety is recommended in dietary lipid structure, degree of saturation, and chain length. Pathological n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fat imbalance, obesity, and progressive glucose intolerance are consequences of adopting cereal grain based diets by both humans and livestock. Food processing and refining amplify these problems. Excessive concerns regarding polyunsaturated fat peroxidation in vivo are not warranted when trigylcerides are balanced and normal diets are consumed. Numerous phytochemicals present in unrefined oils, fruits, vegetables, and herbs afford significant protection from lipid peroxidation and chronic disease.

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