In this post, I would want to reveal to all of you how this whole cholesterol hypothesis started. I would also want to discuss about how high saturated fat diet has nothing to do with heart disease. The rise of the cholesterol hypothesis. Would any of you believe if this powerful hypothesis was a huge conspiracy between governments across the world? Governments pursuing a neo-imperialist pro-globalization agenda, in conjunction with the pharmaceutical industry.
To find out how the cholesterol hypothesis actually started, we have to travel back far into the past, to Berlin in the mid 19th century. It started with a famous pathologist by the name of Rudolf Virchow. He found that plaques in the arteries contain a great deal of cholesterol. He then ponders where could this cholesterol comes from? The blood seem the only possible place. The questions is, how could he knows it is cholesterol in the arteries back in year 1850? He must have some sort of bionic eyes and unique brain power to realize this fact.
Then, many years passed without anyone taking much interest in heart disease. In year 1850, you could die from a small scratch. Tuberculosis felled millions of people, as did infection during childbirth. Indeed, it would seem to have been at least 50 years before the next significant move forward was made, this time, by a Russian researcher. Unfortunately, I can't recall his name. He fed rabbits a high cholesterol diet, their arteries then thickened and filled up with cholesterol. So, cholesterol in the diet is deadly, and causes heart diseases in human, case proven? Well, this Russian researcher certainly thought so. Well, first of all, it is superbly silly, to prove anything about humans by carrying out dietary experiments on rabbits. If you add both Rudolf Virchow and this Russian researcher, the cholesterol bandwagon has started to roll.
However, even after this Russian researcher's experiment, no one was really interested in heart disease. In reality, it was not until World War II, that doctors started to get really interested in heart disease. After the upheaval of the war was over, people noticed that middle aged men were dropping like flies. This appeared to be the start of an epidemic that had swept in from nowhere, and it began in the USA.
Then, we have Ancel Keys and his famous seven countries study. He looked at saturated fat consumption in seven countries and found a straight line relationship between heart disease, cholesterol levels and saturated fat intake. Despite the crippling flaws of his study, most people believed that Ancel Keys had proven the cholesterol hypothesis beyond doubt. Well, if any of you interested to read about Ancel Keys study, go do your own research on the internet and connect the dots if you may.
Anyway, in the 20th century, most people were utterly convinced that fat in the diet, saturated or otherwise, caused blood cholesterol/LDL levels to rise. And the subsequent rise in cholesterol was overwhelmingly regarded as the primary cause of heart disease. But, it wasn't until the arrival of the statins that the cholesterol hypothesis fully conquered the world.
Now, let's move on to discussion about diet with relation to heart disease. I always remember, family members, friends and colleagues tell me, "don't eat too much egg yolks, you will have high cholesterol". Even doctors said that to me! Question, does eating a high fat or high cholesterol diet cause heart disease? Let's look at some of the population around the world, proven that high fat or cholesterol diet does not cause heart disease.
The French consume more saturated fat than any other nation in Europe, and they have the lowest rate of heart disease. The only other nation that comes close to their super low rate of heart disease is Switzerland, and the Swiss have the second highest consumption of saturated fat in Europe. Then, we have Inuit and Eskimos, these population have very high consumption of saturated fat, and yet very low rates of heart disease.
Also, we have study in Malmo, Sweden in 2005, study conducted with more then 28 thousand middle age people, and the conclusion of the finding is that saturated fat showed no relationship with cardiovascular disease in men. Among women, cardiovascular mortality showed a downward trend with increase saturated fat intake.
On top of that study, we have list of countries in Europe such as Netherlands, Iceland, Belgium and Finland, all these countries have high saturated fat intake, and low rates in heart disease. There are also other studies which show that high saturated fat diet does not affect the risk of heart disease as well.
From what I could tell you, choose good quality saturated fat for consumption. For instance, if you would to eat food high in saturated fat, choose clean organic grass fed meats (beef), chickens fed on their natural diet, organic coconut oil, free range eggs and etc.
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