The Saturated Fat Myth

The Fat Lies, which I referenced in the introduction, is a lecture by Dr. Pradip Jamnadas that challenges the conventional wisdom about dietary fat and its role in heart disease.

He explains that the data from a study in 1958 on cardiovascular disease of 22 countries was manipulated by Ancel Keys so that there was a correlation between heart disease and cholesterol. The study was reduced to just 7 countries and became known as the “Seven Countries Study”.  It set out to investigate the relationship between diet, particularly fat intake, and heart disease across different populations. Initially 22 countries were considered, but only 7 were ultimately selected for the final analysis, based on the desire to show a correlation between fat intake and heart disease.

Keys and his team studied men aged 40-59 in the 7 countries.

This was ‘cherry-picking’ the data to obtain the desired result. However, when the remaining countries in the survey are added there is no correlation between fat intake and cardiovascular disease. Keys’ study was the major influencer for the low-fat dietary guidelines that became prevalent in the US and other countries and still applies today. These guidelines often recommended replacing saturated fats with carbohydrates, which some argue has contributed to rising obesity and diabetes rates.

Here are some key points:

• Challenging the Lipid Hypothesis – Dr. Jamnadas challenges the long-held belief that saturated fat causes heart disease. He argues that this hypothesis is based on flawed studies and has been disproven by more recent research – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18615352/

• The Oiling of America about the origin of the myth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvKdYUCUca8&t=700s

• The real culprits are carbohydrates – Dr Jamnadas suggests that excessive carbohydrate consumption, particularly refined carbohydrates and sugar, is a major driver of metabolic problems, including insulin resistance, inflammation, and weight gain, which can contribute to heart disease.

• The importance of whole foods – Dr. Jamnadas emphasizes the importance of consuming whole, unprocessed foods, including natural fats, as part of a healthy diet. He cautions against processed vegetable oils and trans fats (now widely accepted as contributors to cardiovascular disease) which he says are harmful to health –https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31336535/

• Focus on metabolic health – Dr Jamnadas advocates for a focus on metabolic health rather than just cholesterol levels. He explains that addressing insulin resistance and inflammation is crucial for preventing and managing heart disease.

Overall, The Fat Lies presents a new perspective on dietary fat and heart disease and is viewed as controversial by some. However, Dr. Jamnadas is not alone in his position, and he encourages us all to question the conventional wisdom and consider the evidence for ourselves.