After years of telling everyone to avoid saturated fats, new research seems to indicate more harm is caused by trans-fats in processed foods, and that saturated fats are not likely to cause you any harm.

Trans-fats are 34 percent more likely to cause strokes, heart disease, diabetes and early death than saturated fats, according to an article posted at telegraph.co.uk.  Trans-fats are found in oils and processed foods, such as snacks and packaged baked goods.

Saturated fats are found in foods like butter, cream, animal fats and chocolate, and have been demonized since the 1950’s as being one of the major players involved with heart disease.  This new study, from the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, at McMaster University in Canada, found no such association.

Researching data from 50 studies, involving more than one million people, the conclusions that were drawn did not support the dangers of saturated fat.

A spokesman for the study said they were not at all advocating for an increase in the recommended amounts of saturated fat intake, stating they did not find any evidence that saturated fat was beneficial to your health as well.  Diets high in saturated fat could lead to increased cholesterol and contribute to obesity and other health problems.

The study also said trans-fats have no health benefits, but greatly increase chances of disease and early death.  Consuming industrial trans-fats was associated with a 21 percent increase in cardiovascular disease, 28 percent increase in death from coronary heart disease, and as mentioned, a 34 percent increase in the risk of dying early.

Current guidelines recommend limiting your saturated fat to less than 10 percent of your energy, while capping trans-fats to a mere one percent to reduce the possibility of heart attack and stroke.

This new study gives credence to a recent University of Cambridge study that found evidence saturated fats in dairy foods may help protect against diabetes.