It's a lovely article. The problem is that public perception no longer has anything to do with reality, and it hasn't for many, many years. Older people were raised on the whole diet-heart hypothesis myth and it's firmly embedded as all the "lifestyle" dietary information they ever need to know, been there done that learned it in 1970, let's move on.
Some of the institutions that gave them this "knowledge" are still doubling down on it. Do you know the most widely read magazine in the US? The AARP newsletter (because it's sent free to more or less every person over 50 whether they want it or not.) Every month I scan AARP and every month I come across at least one squib promoting low fat diets as the responsible choice. Literally 10% of the US population (plus the fallout victims in their households) is mailed this reinforcing bs once a month. The American Diabetes Association is still blathering on about "healthy" (not saturated) fats, and trying to insert wheat and some form of sugar into just about every meal suggestion. Given the choice between steak and PopTarts, I think they'd recommend a "healthy portion" of toaster pastries.
Younger people are being indoctrinated with the equally simplistic and incorrect idea that Eating Plants Healthy (and virtuous), Eating Animals Bad. When you're dealing with these enormous commercially-driven tropes and simplifications as a cheat sheet everyone's using, fighting it with scientific papers is like handing Stephen Hawking's notes to a group of fifth graders and saying see? That's how the universe works. " Uh, thanks, yeah, sun, moon, something about gravity, can I line the birdcage with this?"
Sorry, but we need an Idiot Slogan crawling on the bottom of every youtube.
Fascinating article I’ve thought what you eloquently put into words with the data as well. Also we have very similar diets. I believe Crisco killed more people than smoking.
I grew up on margarine and seed, oils.
It’s almost like these elites formulate these ideas to actually harm us when they know the truth or is it just to sell pharmaceuticals and make money a scam.
Refreshing to read your perspective, especially how narratives shape science. It is an abuse that is so high across fields now it is undermining credible science. And with all science we need a system that lets us adapt and change as we learn more.
I think those photos of Gates says it all. He doesn’t look all that healthy! I wouldn’t have much confidence in anything he says about food and health.
I’ve always described the big cholesterol/statin drug myth as a “triumph of advertising over science.” Adequate LDL cholesterol is required for the body to manufacture reproductive and adrenal gland steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone, estrogens, DHEA, cortisol, cortisone, and aldosterone, etc. These steroid hormones are profoundly important for physical and mental well being. Physical well being because they turn on and off DNA programs and largely control protein synthesis. Mental well being because they are required to both manufacture and sensitize neurotransmitter receptors.
Cholesterol from eggs and red meat is easy for the body to break down and metabolize. It’s when we over indulge in carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates with no fiber, that increases insulin production which tells the liver to manufacture hard to metabolize fats and tells fat cells to multiply and fat metabolizing arteries like coronary arteries, the aorta, femoral arteries and renal arteries to make and store plaque.
Interesting article, the only problem is that it completely ignores the volumes of well structured studies that support the saturated fat --> LDL cholesterol (apoB, to be more precise) level --> heart disease connection. And the idea that no mechanism has been identified to support the connection is simply not true. It is true that your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol, and most competent nutritionists freely acknowledge that. But your body doesn't need unlimited amounts of cholesterol and the traditional western diet, combined with the low levels of physical exercise in much of western population results in too much cholesterol--or more precisely too much ApoB. It's also true that eating cholesterol has little impact on serum cholesterol levels. The biggest impact on serum cholesterol is excess unused calorie intake that your body doesn't need and has to put somewhere. Since fat is a more efficient store of calories than muscle and carbs--and your body can't manufacture carbs anyway--it turns the excess into fats, some of which are LDL and VLDL cholesterols.
The results of the Maasai people is probably similar to that of Eskimos. They eat a lot of saturated fat, but they also get a lot of physical exercise, so they burn the fat for energy thereby preventing it producing excess cholesterol. Rates of heart disease among Eskimos has increased as they have moved away from traditional life style. It's like the same will happen to the Maasai.
So, interesting article, but I strongly recommend not just accepting it's conclusions without looking at the evidence supporting the opposing view. Your life may depend on getting past the competition for eyeballs to get to the truth.
This is the original “climate change” (or whatever they’re calling it these days) or covid jabs “work” scenario; money to be made and cherry-pick data to fit the narrative, facts be damned….
“Can you think of others?” The current acceptance that an anthropogenic co2 increase is destroying our planet fits exactly the process you describe: suppressed contradictory evidence, career suicide if you don’t accept the official line, social blind belief in “The Science”, etc.
Nice breakdown of the trouble with science and government. I wrote my own book about this, called "Cavemen Weren't Fat" where I talk exactly about the same things you do, except this article goes into even deeper detail than I do. However, I see health from more of an evolutionary perspective than a scientific one, because in my opinion, health has to be simple enough for an uneducated person or animal to be able to maintain. That is exactly what we did for millions of years, basically maintain perfect health without any knowledge of science. How is this possible? It's because all animals including us were created by evolution, not scientists....the true way to maintain our health is to live like our ancestors did who had basically zero metabolic health problems....
Many people drink unfiltered coffee, percolators, espresso, moka, Turkish, many people have replaced their paper filters with reusable wire mesh ones in drip coffee makers.
It's a lovely article. The problem is that public perception no longer has anything to do with reality, and it hasn't for many, many years. Older people were raised on the whole diet-heart hypothesis myth and it's firmly embedded as all the "lifestyle" dietary information they ever need to know, been there done that learned it in 1970, let's move on.
Some of the institutions that gave them this "knowledge" are still doubling down on it. Do you know the most widely read magazine in the US? The AARP newsletter (because it's sent free to more or less every person over 50 whether they want it or not.) Every month I scan AARP and every month I come across at least one squib promoting low fat diets as the responsible choice. Literally 10% of the US population (plus the fallout victims in their households) is mailed this reinforcing bs once a month. The American Diabetes Association is still blathering on about "healthy" (not saturated) fats, and trying to insert wheat and some form of sugar into just about every meal suggestion. Given the choice between steak and PopTarts, I think they'd recommend a "healthy portion" of toaster pastries.
Younger people are being indoctrinated with the equally simplistic and incorrect idea that Eating Plants Healthy (and virtuous), Eating Animals Bad. When you're dealing with these enormous commercially-driven tropes and simplifications as a cheat sheet everyone's using, fighting it with scientific papers is like handing Stephen Hawking's notes to a group of fifth graders and saying see? That's how the universe works. " Uh, thanks, yeah, sun, moon, something about gravity, can I line the birdcage with this?"
Sorry, but we need an Idiot Slogan crawling on the bottom of every youtube.
"Cholesterol, it's what brains crave!"
Fascinating article I’ve thought what you eloquently put into words with the data as well. Also we have very similar diets. I believe Crisco killed more people than smoking.
I grew up on margarine and seed, oils.
It’s almost like these elites formulate these ideas to actually harm us when they know the truth or is it just to sell pharmaceuticals and make money a scam.
Huge thanks for all the time, effort and intellect you put into this excellent long-form article.
Refreshing to read your perspective, especially how narratives shape science. It is an abuse that is so high across fields now it is undermining credible science. And with all science we need a system that lets us adapt and change as we learn more.
If I had Bill’s level of FU money I’d have 2 personal chefs traveling with me everywhere preparing me the best meals possible.
Fascinating read. Thanks so much for your work and making it available to all.
I think those photos of Gates says it all. He doesn’t look all that healthy! I wouldn’t have much confidence in anything he says about food and health.
I’ve always described the big cholesterol/statin drug myth as a “triumph of advertising over science.” Adequate LDL cholesterol is required for the body to manufacture reproductive and adrenal gland steroid hormones like testosterone, progesterone, estrogens, DHEA, cortisol, cortisone, and aldosterone, etc. These steroid hormones are profoundly important for physical and mental well being. Physical well being because they turn on and off DNA programs and largely control protein synthesis. Mental well being because they are required to both manufacture and sensitize neurotransmitter receptors.
Cholesterol from eggs and red meat is easy for the body to break down and metabolize. It’s when we over indulge in carbohydrates, especially refined carbohydrates with no fiber, that increases insulin production which tells the liver to manufacture hard to metabolize fats and tells fat cells to multiply and fat metabolizing arteries like coronary arteries, the aorta, femoral arteries and renal arteries to make and store plaque.
Dr. Dean Raffelock
Interesting article, the only problem is that it completely ignores the volumes of well structured studies that support the saturated fat --> LDL cholesterol (apoB, to be more precise) level --> heart disease connection. And the idea that no mechanism has been identified to support the connection is simply not true. It is true that your body needs a certain amount of cholesterol, and most competent nutritionists freely acknowledge that. But your body doesn't need unlimited amounts of cholesterol and the traditional western diet, combined with the low levels of physical exercise in much of western population results in too much cholesterol--or more precisely too much ApoB. It's also true that eating cholesterol has little impact on serum cholesterol levels. The biggest impact on serum cholesterol is excess unused calorie intake that your body doesn't need and has to put somewhere. Since fat is a more efficient store of calories than muscle and carbs--and your body can't manufacture carbs anyway--it turns the excess into fats, some of which are LDL and VLDL cholesterols.
The results of the Maasai people is probably similar to that of Eskimos. They eat a lot of saturated fat, but they also get a lot of physical exercise, so they burn the fat for energy thereby preventing it producing excess cholesterol. Rates of heart disease among Eskimos has increased as they have moved away from traditional life style. It's like the same will happen to the Maasai.
So, interesting article, but I strongly recommend not just accepting it's conclusions without looking at the evidence supporting the opposing view. Your life may depend on getting past the competition for eyeballs to get to the truth.
This is the original “climate change” (or whatever they’re calling it these days) or covid jabs “work” scenario; money to be made and cherry-pick data to fit the narrative, facts be damned….
What is "Unfiltered coffee"? Instant? Instant decaf? Drip? I thought all coffee is filtered.
“Can you think of others?” The current acceptance that an anthropogenic co2 increase is destroying our planet fits exactly the process you describe: suppressed contradictory evidence, career suicide if you don’t accept the official line, social blind belief in “The Science”, etc.
You might enjoy my conversation with Dr. Judith Curry: https://mindandmatter.substack.com/p/judith-curry-climatology-climate?utm_source=publication-search
Very interesting, thanks.
Nice breakdown of the trouble with science and government. I wrote my own book about this, called "Cavemen Weren't Fat" where I talk exactly about the same things you do, except this article goes into even deeper detail than I do. However, I see health from more of an evolutionary perspective than a scientific one, because in my opinion, health has to be simple enough for an uneducated person or animal to be able to maintain. That is exactly what we did for millions of years, basically maintain perfect health without any knowledge of science. How is this possible? It's because all animals including us were created by evolution, not scientists....the true way to maintain our health is to live like our ancestors did who had basically zero metabolic health problems....
I suspect that this article would make for an excellent TED talk.
What is "Unfiltered coffee"? Instant? Instant decaf? Drip? I thought all coffee is filtered.
Many people drink unfiltered coffee, percolators, espresso, moka, Turkish, many people have replaced their paper filters with reusable wire mesh ones in drip coffee makers.
Thank you.
I never felt better than eating a carnivore way.🧈🥓🍳🥩🥑🦐. Worked for me.