Letters to the Editor

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Vegan diets for fat-free living

Most people realize that it's unwise to eat foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol ("Well, Well, Well: Fats not so bad," Jan 28 – Feb 3). Those who eat high-fat diets are more likely to develop coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and several types of cancer. Heart disease is caused primarily by high cholesterol, and cholesterol is found only in meat, eggs, and dairy products. You can reduce your blood cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease by reducing the amount of saturated and trans fats you eat. According to Dr. William C. Roberts, the editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Cardiology, "A vegetarian diet is the least expensive and safest means of achieving the plaque-preventing LDL (good cholesterol) goal." If you want to stay slim and healthy, skip the fat and cholesterol and eat a balanced vegan diet. See GoVeg.com for more information, recipes, and product suggestions.

Heather Moore
Research Ppecialist
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

Health facts wanted

On the one hand, I agree that saturated fat intake is not an absolute indicator of health ("Well, Well, Well: Fats not so bad," Jan 28 – Feb 3). Two people can eat remarkably similar diets with varying saturated fat amounts (with lean beef, skim milk, etc.). Saturated fats are not the problem in and of themselves. Vegetarian populations are almost always found to have lower rates of the so-called "Western diseases." There is, however, abundant evidence showing a correlation between high cholesterol and heart disease. You seem to dance around that fact, in favour of oversimplifications and generalizations. That we use less butter than we did in 1910 isn't evidence on overall saturated fat intake and cholesterol levels. To allude to a connection is just misleading. To say people consume more sugar in place of saturated fats isn't an argument for the benefits of the latter. Shouldn't one rather work to cut down on both? I don't read health articles for baseless conjecture; I tend to prefer articles that are a little more ... saturated with facts. They tend to lead to more satiety.

Jason Halbauer

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