Saturated fat & heart disease
 

This subject is going to be difficult and I doubt I can do it justice. To explain it fully you'd have to cover a lot of territory.

On may 6th. a column by Mona Charen appeared in the Daily Sun: "Bad science happens; always be skeptical"

And, indeed, her column made me skeptical. She claims that a new study has discovered that saturated fat does not cause heart disease. She totally believes it but I doubt that it's the whole truth. I think it was inspired by the food industry. It seems that something is not quite right, especially considering that neither the AP nor McClatchy news has covered this story. But it has been covered by the above columnist and a well known talk-radio host.

It makes me skeptical when a study isolates one dietary constituent like saturated fat and then says, "it doesn't cause heart disease". As I have said once before, this is known as "reductionism".

Most scientists who study this should know that every cell in the human body requires some saturated fat. You can't build a cell without it. If you don't consume enough saturated fat, your body will manufacture what it needs. Having said that, excess fat consumption, beyond those needs, would be pointless and possibly harmful. Too much saturated fat in one's diet can have the effect of making cells too stiff. Not to mention that fat is high in calories. And if you consume to many calories you likely would gain excess weight and that could lead to inflammation. Then inflammation could bring on heart disease. So if it is not one thing alone, like saturated fat, that causes heart disease, it is a chain of events. You have to look at the individual and his/her whole lifestyle, not just one thing in a vacuum.

This is a long story to be continued: If you would like more information, just google the following: Saturated fat does not cause heart disease

Two books I recommend....Wheat Belly by Dr. Wm. Davis and Grain Brain by Dr. David Perlmutter. These will share what exactly does seem to cause many of our illnesses. Dr. Davis is a cardiologist and Dr. Perlmutter is a neurologist.

Villages PL - check out the thread started by Dr Winston O Boogie jr regarding too much sugar and the video that he recommends watching. Would be very interested in your opinion on the info in the video.

Here is the link to the video -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evcNPfZlrZs

Have a great day!

Thanks, Abby, I will try to do that as soon as I add a post to this thread.

I should have explained in my opening post that this new report about saturated fat starts out with a somewhat faulty premise. Their premise is that people have been deceived ("by the best minds in science") for over 50 years into thinking that saturated fat causes heart disease. However, regarding this subject, the scientific community never spoke with one voice.

Over the past 4 to 5 decades there were always books defending the consumption of meat and dairy. And the overwelming majority of those who were "anti-saturated-fat" never suggested that people should eliminate ALL saturated fat. The suggestion was to "cut-back" their consumption of it.

I hope that puts it in better perspective.

Hey, much thanks. The book "Wheat Belly" was recommended before but I finally decided to get it from the Sumter County Library. I'm up to Part II and I might decide to give my opinion of it when I'm finished. :) Also, I expect to get "Grain Brain" soon. Wow, I have a lot of reading to do now! :)

I'm 1/2 way through Grain Brain! It's from a different point of view than Wheat Belly BUT they are compatable. I've been doing the Wheat Belly way of eating for over a year and it has done much for me medically speaking. IF you're on Facebook you can click Wheat Belly and "like" it to read all the positive testimonies of folks. I've tried every "diet" there is...this isn't one of those. It truly addresses the total individual, especially with inflamations etc. I'm glad you decided to be open minded enough to at least read these books. Back to Grain Brain...I actually am finding it an easier read as Dr. Davis gets into a lot of scientific stuff that the layman (or at least me) can't really understand it. But it shows he did his "home-work" plus he "walks his talks"!!

What benefits folks will ask (re: me)....Down lbs and clothing sizes, labs are improving so medications are being reduced or eliminated, IBS is gone, brain fog has improved, pain issues dealt with from before has vanished. It is something that doesn't happen over-night but gradually.

Glad to hear that the elimination of wheat is working for you. If it's working, keep doing what you're doing. You had IBS and it seems your system just couldn't tolerate wheat. Maybe it has something to do with all the genetic modifications of wheat, as Dr. Davis states in his book, or maby it's just gluten intolerance, period. Just lke some people have an alergic reaction to peanuts.

I agree there is a lot of scientific stuff in "Wheat Belly" that makes it sometimes difficult to read. I think he spends a little too much time on some of it. Having said that, I was glad and amazed to learn about all the genetic modifications. So now I understand more about what's going on with our food supply.

However, concerning how the average non alergic person should eat, I have some serious doubts. Is the "Wheat Belly" diet for everyone? It might be best to start a new thread for this discussion.

Did you get a hold of Grain Brain yet??? Back to Wheat Belly...he talks a lot about gluten in processed foods (hidden even) as well as soy products. I will tell you that I had a food-sensitivity test some years back. Mine were yeast, soy and dairy with some other foods creeping up on their scale. Dr. Davis talks quite a bit that people may have sensitivities and not realize that it's food related. IF you go and read the blog with all the comments folks are making since being on that way of eating...it's astounding! What I get quite a bit in conversations is "oh, I love my bread and rolls too much to ever do that!" even though they've just complained about headaches, digestive issues and more. I guess we all do what we can tolerate...if one is ready to give things up for better health then they will.

Yes, I now have "Grain Brain" and I'm about half way through "Wheat Belly". I don't do "Facebook" because I just don't like logging into unfamiliar websites. Someone tried to show me once but I didn't see the point of it. :-)

One of the issues is that thE today is totally different from the wheat our mothers used to bake with in the 50s and 60s. Europe does not allow the use of the type wheat that we use. I recommend the site Marks Daily Apple for those of you who,have an interest in health. I have given up grains and sugar ...for the most part....and feel amazingly better. I feel if you have issues, just give it a try. I also feel saturated fats are very important in the prevention of dementia and Alzheimer's.
Good health to all.....

I have been Wheat and Grain free and Sugar free after reading Wheat Belly for 3 months, I have lost all aches and pains I was having and feel better than I have in years, also so far have lost 12 pounds as a added side effect without any effort, I eat better than ever, Have my BBQ ribs, Cheese burgers ( made with almond flour rolls), Steaks, Cheese, eggs Bacon etc etc and my Glass or 2 of wine a night, I find I am not as hungry as I was, I also do not crave anything as I do not miss anything. So for me this works.!

My experience is similar to yours! One will get nearly immediate results with this way of eating as you've experienced. "IF" you try to go back and eat the old way you'll not feel all the best...that has been my experience...so a good lesson to be had.

As for the poster who said saturated fats are important. With WB....(and Grain Brain) it's recommended to use coconut oil, olive oil and butter. It's been said these oils will enable one to lose weight (if that's their objective) and will also help with brain health.

Yes, I try and have a lot of Coconut Oil, Olive Oil and Butter, I add to things, which is why my appetite is less, I also noticed just a little exposure to wheat from eating out did not agree with me, got upset stomach as a result, Which to mean speaks for itself, its not good for us. I am now committed to this for the duration and am loving the way I feel as a result.

Sounds like the Atkins regime. Works really well for my husband. Not so much for me.