Whether or not you are inclined to join Scrooge in saying, "Bah, humbug" to Christmas, please enjoy your roast dinner this year and ignore the orthodox humbug about saturated fat (trans and oxidized fats are the enemy). Two months ago in the BMJ a cardiologist, Dr Aseem Malhotra, bravely reaffirmed that advice to reduce saturated fat had, "paradoxically increased our cardiovascular risks." He pointed out that saturated fat intake had decreased in the US, but with little impact on obesity, because, as we all know, "the food industry compensated by replacing saturated fats with sugar." Recent studies, he noted, have not supported a link between saturated fat intake and risk of heart disease. He said the government's obsession with cholesterol levels had "led to the over-medication of millions of people with statins."
The mainstream misinformation about saturated fat is inextricably linked with the "Great Cholesterol Con" (the title of a book by Dr Malcolm Kendrick http://drmalcolmkendrick.org/2013/11/19/what-is-your-statin-by-date/ ). Professor John P. Cooke advises, “Cholesterol [LDL] itself is not bad. In fact, it is essential for life. Cholesterol is a building block for all cell membranes. It is also the precursor for sex hormones and other steroids that our bodies manufacture. It is only when cholesterol becomes oxidized that trouble begins.” (“The Cardiovascular Cure”, page 38). In his book “Heart Frauds” (a wonderful and possibly lifesaving Christmas present for your friends) Dr McGee reviews the research evidence on cholesterol and shows conclusively that low level LDL cholesterol carries a much higher risk of death than a high level. Also, statins themselves carry a risk of serious side effects.
Cholesterol is our friend. Oxidized LDL cholesterol is the enemy. The answer is, of course, L-arginine supplementation (see for instance this clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONaK0BC_5oQ&feature=player_detailpage by Dr Harry Elwardt, an Akworld fan, who contributes to our Arkworld website). ADNO (Arginine Derived Nitric Oxide) has been shown to be as effective as vitamin E at preventing oxidation, but at a much lower dose (Hogg et al., “Inhibition of Macrophage-Dependent Low Density”, Journal of Lipid Research, 36 (1993), 1756 – 1762). Further research has established that ADNO supplementation reduces the tendency for immune system cells to stick to the walls of the arteries, even if you have high levels of LDL cholesterol and harmful free radicals (Cooke et al., Antiatherogenic Effects of L-Arginine in the Hyperholesterolemic Rabbit, “ Journal of Clinical Investigation, 90 (1992), 1168-1172). Recent research confirms previous findings that Arginine supplementation reduces weight gain, reduces dangerous white fat and enhances skeletal muscle and brown fat (Jobgen et al, Journal of Nutrition, Feb 2009, 139(2): 230-37). For a review of this research and some fascinating empirical observations listen to the dulcet tones of Larry Hobbs in a series of clips (https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=ZEwhMUq-96U).
So please enjoy your Christmas dinner without fear of saturated fat and give a tub of Pink Drink to all those you love. So I join with Tiny Tim to say to all our readers, “God Bless Us, Every One!”
Charles
Buon Natale a tutti;
It can be fun not duty.
Eat, drink, be very merry,
Food, wine, a small dry sherry.
Stuff the goose both legs and wings,
ARK the Herald Angel sings,
"Healthy Pink Drink tastes fruity."