low-fat diets

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THE RISKS OF LOW-FAT DIETS People who consume a diet low in fats and especially low in cholesterol are at risk for depression and suicide. The first clue that low-fat diets might have anything to do with depression oro selfdirected violence turned up a few decades ago,quite by surprise. Large community-based studies of heart disease prevention strategies showed that among persons with thw lowest cholesterol levels ,there wae a increased incidence of death ont caused by illness,primarily to suicide ,accidents ,and violence. At first ,it defied comprehension . And to a considerable degree it still does,twenty-something years later. But the link between cholesterol lowering and suicide may run directly through brain serotonin pathways,with side sstops to depression,irritability ,impulsiveness ,and aggression . Or it may run more indirectly through metabolic pathways of brain serotonin ,the neurotrotransmitter most assocoated with depression . Whatever the link is ,it's complex ,because it hasn't been easy to pin down . Several studies have shown that low cholesterol is linked to depressed mood and to impulsivity ,although it isn't clear whether the link to depression is as true for people whose cholestero levels are lowered by diet as in people with nattttturally occurring low cholesterol levels. Behavior is a very tricky thing to study ,and many different factors have to be taken into account. Low-fat diets are known to alter serotonin function .They might decrease the fats in nerve-cell membrance ,impairing serotonin receptors. Where does that leave you? With some awareness ,hopefully ,that there are few absolutes. Dietary fat isn't all bad ,and some is absolutely necessary .Did we say moderation ?