It’s Monday – and time for another Real Food Quote Monday (RFQM). Today, I’m continuing what I started last week, sharing from Dr. Mary Enig’s and Sally Fallon Morell’s book, “Eat Fat, Lose Fat.”
In Chapter 2, their goal is to debunk the lipid hypothesis through answering four questions – or as they put it, exploding four myths. Before we discuss the first question (or myth), first let’s talk about the lipid hypothesis.
The Lipid Hypothesis
What is the lipid hypothesis? This is the theory – just one of many – named in the 1950s by Ancel Keys. It is “the theory that saturated fats and cholesterol in our food raise cholesterol levels in the blood, leading to heart disease.” This hypothesis grew as scientists sought to explain a steep rise in heart disease. At the turn of the 20th century, less than 10% of deaths were from heart disease, but by 1950, heart disease accounted for 30% of all deaths.
Many doctors (President Eisenhower’s physician among them) pointed out that the increase in heart disease coincided with an increase of liquid vegetable oil and hydrogenated oil consumption, along with an overall decrease in the consumption of eggs and traditional fats. But other scientists insisted that reducing animal fats was the way to stay healthy. So by the 1970s, the prevailing explanation for the rise in heart disease was the lipid hypothesis.
To reach the end conclusion (that saturated fat and cholesterol leads to heart disease), we must basically make three logical jumps:
- We eat a diet containing too much cholesterol and saturated fat, and as a result we develop a high level of cholesterol in our blood.
- High blood cholesterol causes atherosclerosis [plaque build up in the arteries].
- Atherosclerosis obstructs the vessels that bring blood to the heart, resulting in coronary heart disease.
Dr. Enig and Sally Fallon Morell say that “each of these steps is like a link in a chain, connecting to form the lipid hypothesis. And yet extensive scientific evidence exists that contradicts each step in this “chain” of scientific theory, presented as fact for over five decades.”
Here’s a quick recap of the myths Chapter 2 addresses:
- Myth: High fat foods cause heart disease. (Topic of this blog post.)
- Myth: High cholesterol causes heart disease. Blog post here, 3/27/10.
- Myth: High-fat foods increase blood cholesterol. Blog post here, 4/5/10.
- Myth: Cholesterol causes plaque buildup in arteries. Blog post here, 4/12/10.
This week, we’ll talk about the first myth.
Myth: High Fat Foods Cause Heart Disease
“Since the 1950s, scientists, medical organizations such as the American Heart Association, and government agencies such as the FDA have issued dietary guidelines, which they claimed were based on scientific research, urging the public to consume fewer animal products and substitute vegetable oils for animal fats. The food industry followed suit with advertising campaigns touting the health benefits of products low in fat or made with vegetable oils.
Yet during the same period, many studies were being carried out whose results directly contradicted the assumptions of the lipid hypothesis.”
Dr. Enig and Sally Fallon Morell share three specific studies carried out during this time that cannot possibly support the lipid hypothesis – and specifically the part of the theory that claims saturated fat raises cholesterol.
First, in the 1960s, Dr. George Mann of Vanderbilt University studied the Masai people of Kenya, whose diet consisted of mostly milk, meat, and blood – a diet high in saturated fat if ever there was one! The Masai were virtually free of heart disease, and their cholesterol was extremely low – about 50% lower than most Americans. In studying the hearts of dead Masai men of all ages, he didn’t find the type of arterial plaque that causes obstructions, nor evidence of heart attacks in those men.
Next, a study in 1967. Dr. S. L. Malhotra studied Indian railway employees in Punjab, India. They ate ten to twenty times more fat than vegetarian workers in Madras. Yet, heart disease was seven times more common in the Madras workers, and the Punjabi workers lived twelve years longer.
Third, let’s talk about an even larger study by the National Institutes of Health, conducted in 1975 through 1981. 16,000 middle-aged men were studied. “The most significant finding was that the heart attack victims had eaten more polyunsaturated oils than the other group [who had not had heart attacks].”
The Answer Is No
After reviewing available studies, the authors conclude:
“Taken as a whole, then, this research did not – and does not – support the assumption that high-fat foods cause heart attacks.”
The authors also include mention of more recent studies that confirm there is no link between high cholesterol and saturated fats. Even as recently as 2004, a study in Sweden showed that butter protects against heart disease!
Next Week…
Next week, we’ll discuss the second myth in Chapter 2 of “Eat Fat, Lose Fat” – does high cholesterol causes heart disease?
Last week, I really enjoyed your comments about saturated fats. I was particularly proud of those of you who said that eating natural fats always made sense to you! And sad though it is, I learned that I was not the only who had fallen for the “saturated fats are evil” line of thinking. I’m glad we can sort this out together. Please share any thoughts you have this week about myth #1!
Note: The book link in this post is an affiliate link to Amazon.com. If you choose to buy the book via my link, I’ll earn a commission. But I don’t care about that too much. The point of this post is for us to share inspirational words. That’s my sincere disclaimer. Thanks for reading.
I’m definitely going to try it. Soon.
As I said last week my family fell for the “bad fat” hype when we moved to suburbia. As far as this myth is concerned my grandmother is a perfect example. She grew up on animal fats and was healthy. Then after the big suburbia move she tried to eat “healthier” by replacing butter, high fat meats, and whole raw dairy she suffered the first of 4 major heart attacks. She also suffered several minor cardiac episodes (the doctors called it minor, it scared the heck out of my teenage self). Her doctors couldn’t figure out why she is still alive. Knowing what I know now I can answer that question. Although we tried to eat healthier she still had a taste for butter and steak. Now as I learn more I pass the information on to her and she has gained new life.
Hello, I would be interested in knowing if you have studied this and would address what Sally Fallon Morell and others say in the light of Scripture regarding meat, fat, and blood (fats in regard to animal fats in particular, not to be confused with other good and bad fats that are being discussed). I would like to know if you and your husband or others you are aware of have been able to determine what would be a good balance regarding eating meat according to the Scriptures (looking at what was eaten by the priests, Solomon, Daniel, David and Abigail, Paul, etc.). I believe the people of Israel were instructed to not eat fats or blood, and would especially like to see if this might be addressed if you believe it is relevant to the discussion. I keep hearing about studies regarding the health of people who practiced the consuming of blood and such, and I understand you are not by any means saying you promote this just by quoting the studies. But there are some who might just go and do this because they have heard of good heart health, and may not be considering whether or not this is something God wants us to do. I know there are many different fats being spoken of and I don’t want to make this confusing, but I think this may be an important issue to address at this time. Thank you for considering this.
Hi, Ruth!
I am open to you and others discussing this topic. I would hope that everyone would realize this can be a touchy subject. God’s Word doesn’t come out and tell us why His dietary laws forbade the consumption of animal fat and blood. So we can easily enter the realm of speculation and personal conviction when offering explanations. I truly respect each person’s opinion on this, and would never tell anyone what they should believe or do.
But since you asked, our opinion is expressed in this article:
http://gnowfglins.com/2008/01/22/eat-healthfully-but-not-just-for-health-gnowfglins/
We don’t follow the dietary laws of the Old Testament because God declared all unclean foods clean (Acts 10:10-15). However, if we shared a meal with someone for whom this was an issue, we would go along with their preferences out of love for them (Romans 14:14-15).
We believe that we are spiritually safe through our faith in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21). Dietary laws, whether followed or not, should be done joyfully and willingly out of a heart’s desire to please God.
The topic of this post is saturated fats. Whether or not a person follows the dietary laws of the Old Testament, there is no need to shun saturated fats. I believe the research reviewed by these authors supports this, as well as the common sense eating we saw prior to the 20th century. Then, people were virtually free of heart disease while they primarily consumed saturated fats.
I know several Christians who stick to “clean” (OT) foods and also follow the principles of traditional food preparation. They consume the saturated fats in fish, butter, milk, eggs, and coconut oil. So they are getting plenty of saturated fats and fat soluble vitamins! And especially so if the milk, butter, and eggs are produced by animals that feast on rapidly growing green grass. So, in my opinion, regardless of how one approaches it, saturated fats are part of God’s design and His diet.
If you would like to share anything, please feel free!
Hi! I grew up in a household where saturated fats were considered bad. But I have always doubted the validity of it, even as a child. I remember reading books like Little House, and wondering why there was anyone left in the United States! Certainly Pa would have died of a heart attack as a young man! As an adult, I have studied on my own and come to my own conclusions, and changed my young families’ diet. Coincidentally, my mother started to read and study on her own as well, and now she and my father eat whole, natural and organic food as well. It is so fun to share recipes with her now, and know that they are protecting their health as well after all these years! I enjoy your site, and I’m enjoying the ecourse, too! Thanks!
Wardeh, I have a question, I live in Las Vegas, and we can not buy raw milk here, so my best next choice is organic, but now all the organic milk that they are selling is ultra pasturize, so which is better the regular milk homogenize and pasturize, or the organic ultra pasturize? Thanks Lourdes
Lourdes – Is the ultra-pasteurized homogenized also?
Now keeping with the subject of fats, my son in law ask me if I had any fat for frying, and I told him coconut oil or lard, and he said no thanks, then I ask him what kind of fat he wanted, and he said, vegetable oil, like corn or canola, and I told him those were the worst, and I said to him that I have been using coconut oil and lard and butter for over a month and he did not notice any difference in the taste. So after that he did not argue anymore, I am trying my hardest to introduce them to eating better, but sometimes you can not do it openly because you find some resistance.
Lourdes – I have been asking on twitter and facebook for others’ advice on your milk question. I’ll email you the answers when I think the answers are dwindling.
Are you on facebook? If so, look at my profile.
Are you on twitter? I’m @WardehHarmon and you can look at the most recent tweets.
Yes the organic is homogenize and ultra pasteurized, and the regular is homogenize and pasteurized
Thank you for your response to my comment.
I do not have any intention of getting into a big discussion regarding this on your website or on the Internet in general. But I do appreciate your desire to honor God in the way you nourish your family with the food He has provided for us. I just brought this up because I appreciate the Scriptures being quoted along with other research and scientific findings. I realize many passages regarding food were written specificially for the people of Israel and we may or may not find a health benefit to eating the same way. I don’t want to see verses misapplied or “forced” on a non-applicable situation, but what I do like to see is people starting with the Scriptures or applying them in their proper context to what we read elsewhere so that we consider these matters in the light of God’s Word. Just referencing a verse regarding what God directed Israel to do regarding the eating of fat or blood, referencing verses about the value and use of oils – these kind of things certainly give additional food for thought as we consider the preparation of foods.
Thank you for so many great recipes and ideas!
Ruth – I agree that references to verses can add so much to a discussion. Please feel free to share any at any time. I’m really glad to hear from you – thanks for leaving your thoughtful comments!