Study Rates Heart Health of Popular Diet Plans

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A second study in the same issue of the journal suggests that using canola-based products instead of other oils all the time could meet national standards for healthy fats. Canola oil can help decrease adults' saturated fatty acid intake by up to 9.4 percent and increase their intake of monounsaturated fatty acids by 27.6 percent. Alpha-linolenic acid intake would increase 73 percent. The switch would not affect total calories, fat and cholesterol, according to the researchers, from the University of Illinois and Pennsylvania State University, who studied the diets of more than 9,000 people.

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For more about the USDA's dietary guidelines, visit MyPyramid.