What happens to your body when you eat good vs bad fats?
Substituting dietary saturated for monounsaturated fat impairs insulin sensitivity in healthy men and women: The KANWU study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Monounsaturated fat increased lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] by 12% (p < 0.001), a known risk factor for heart disease.
Monounsaturated fats are widely considered heart-healthy, so seeing a rise in a harmful marker like Lp(a) is unexpected and complicates the narrative.
Practical Takeaways
Replace saturated fats like butter and fatty meats with monounsaturated fats like olive oil and avocados — but keep total fat intake below 37% of calories to see metabolic benefits.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Monounsaturated fat increased lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] by 12% (p < 0.001), a known risk factor for heart disease.
Monounsaturated fats are widely considered heart-healthy, so seeing a rise in a harmful marker like Lp(a) is unexpected and complicates the narrative.
Practical Takeaways
Replace saturated fats like butter and fatty meats with monounsaturated fats like olive oil and avocados — but keep total fat intake below 37% of calories to see metabolic benefits.
Publication
Journal
Diabetologia
Year
2001
Authors
B. Vessby, M. Uusitupa, K. Hermansen, G. Riccardi, A. Rivellese, L. Tapsell, C. Nälsén, L. Berglund, A. Louheranta, B. M. Rasmussen, G. Calvert, A. Maffetone, E. Pedersen, I. Gustafsson, L. Storlien
Related Content
Claims (4)
Eating a lot of saturated fat might make your body less responsive to insulin and cause fat to build up in your liver. If you also eat a lot of protein, it could push your body to make more sugar, which might raise your blood sugar—especially if you're prone to it.
If you're eating a lot of fat—more than 37% of your daily calories—switching to healthier fats like olive oil might not help your body respond to insulin better. But if your overall fat intake is lower, making that switch could actually help.
Swapping out bad fats (like butter and fatty meats) for good fats (like olive oil and avocados) can help your body use insulin better—even if you're not changing how many calories you eat.
Eating certain fats can change your 'bad' cholesterol — saturated fats go up a little, but monounsaturated fats go down, even if you're already healthy.