Do you find science boring in general and discussion of diets completely intolerable? I get it. I really do. But I would also like to make some good decisions that promote my best health so . . . Let’s suspend all the multi-syllable mumbo-jumbo and look at common sense. Let’s tackle the biggest killer in the world, heart disease, with a few simple, in your face blunt facts. And let’s pile on with a little more simplicity by tacking on a few common sense action steps at the end. Giddy up.
Myth #1: Avoid saturated fat as it causes heart disease.
Truth is there isn’t a single study on the planet that proves saturated fat would cause heart disease. What does absolutely cause plaque in blood vessels and heart attacks is eating processed foods make with vegetable oils like corn, canola, sunflower and safflower. These are the fats that most easily rust (oxidize) in your arteries. These are the fats that the American Heart Association recommends you eat so they can keep their gaggle of cardiologists employed and busy. Shameful.
Myth #2: 70% of all heart attack victims have a NORMAL cholesterol panel.
Truth is, the idea of measuring LDL (bad cholesterol) as a screening tool for heart attacks stems from some really poor research from the 1960’s and 70’s. What was really discovered was that a low HDL (good cholesterol) is far more predictive of heart risk but the pharmaceutical companies couldn’t develop a drug that would raise a persons HDL. So instead, they promoted and sold billions of dollar’s worth of statin drugs to lower LDL even thought this doesn't stop heart attacks. Shameful. Do you know what does increase your protective HDL? Eating saturated fat and getting exercise. Studies prove it.
Myth #3: Keeping cholesterol really low reduces heart attack risk.
Truth is, we have known since the 1970’s and beyond that total cholesterol doesn't begin to predict risk until it is super high, like over 300, and even then it's a poor predictor. Your body is SUPPOSED to make cholesterol, your brain even makes cholesterol because your body NEEDS it to thrive. This story line sells a lot of statin drugs but it doesn't touch the truth.
