lower cholesterol and low fat diets

low fat diets are not equal according to Stanford university

A “plant-based” diet is not necessarily a vegetarian diet. It is simply a diet that includes a base of whole grains, vegetables,nuts, beans, seeds and fruits. The 2000 AHA guidelines recommend at least 5 daily servings of vegetables and fruits and at least six daily servings of grains with an emphasis on whole grains.

Previous studies, Gardner said, have shown plant-based diets to be effective in lowering cholesterol. But plant-based eaters also tend to consume less cholesterol and saturated fat than conventional low-fat eaters.

The Stanford University study breaks new ground by comparing 2 patient groups eating different foods but identical amounts of total and saturated fat, carbohydrate, protein, and cholesterol. So the 2 groups’ different levels of blood cholesterol change are attributable to the different foods—bean burritos and dark green salads for example, versus frozen pizza and iceberg lettuce —and no differences in saturated fat and cholesterol intake.

The randomized clinical trial included one hundred and twenty adults, ages 30 to 65. All were members of the target population for food-based approaches to lowering cholesterol: They had moderately high LDL levels, between 130 and 190 mg/dL.