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“The Soft Science of Dietary Fats,” by Gary Taubes, in the March 30, 2001 issue of Science,1 exposes the shenanigans of the 1970s McGovern Senate Committee staff and the follow-on by various government agencies that gave us the anti-fat, anti-cholesterol dietary goals and guidelines. This exposé adds to the material in “The Oiling of America”2 by Enig and Fallon and The Cholesterol Myths3 by Ravnskov. Taken together, these works provide substantial food for thought.
Blood cholesterol levels between 200 and 240 mg/dl are normal. These levels have always been normal. In older women, serum cholesterol levels greatly above these numbers are also quite normal, and in fact they have been shown to be associated with longevity. Since 1984, however, in the United States and other parts of the western world, these normal numbers have been treated as if they were an indication of a disease in progress or a potential for disease in the future.
As a result of some of this misinformation, which was purposefully planted by the leadership of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in 1984, many hundreds of thousands of people are treated with expensive medications to prevent the development of a non-existent illness. If the medications were only expensive and not life threatening, their use could no doubt be shrugged off as a harmless snake oil pharmaceutical scam; but, in fact, these are thoroughly dangerous medications for both physical and emotional reasons—for physical reasons because their use can lead to serious untreatable diseases such as liver cancer, and for emotional reasons because their use perpetuates the myth that cholesterol is dangerous and evil.
In his book The Cholesterol Myths, Dr. Uffe Ravnskov tells us what happens to an older woman who has normal high serum cholesterol levels. When her blood is tested in a forced cholesterol checkup, the cholesterol myth is used to justify treatment of her nonexistent disease state and she loses her vibrant state of good health.
The official advice to lower serum cholesterol levels has brought about numerous supplements with the attached claim that consuming them will lower cholesterol. This further supports the myth of cholesterol as an undesirable component of body and diet. In fact, the body uses cholesterol to repair and to protect. When improvement to the health of the body brought about by good changes in lifestyle or diet results in a lowering of serum cholesterol, it can be counted as an example of the body no longer needing the extra circulating cholesterol. The repair has been accomplished.
A month after the exposé in Science, the NHLBI responded by lowering its recommended “at risk” cholesterol level and increasing the number of people it wants to put on cholesterol lowering drugs. But there may be hope that the truth will win. Independent thoughtful researchers have continued to point out that there is a real need for correcting the wrong advice given to the public regarding the consumption of dietary fats. New research continues to show that the saturated fats are not a problem, that the trans fatty acids found in partially hydrogenated vegetable fats and oils really are a problem, and that the lack of appropriate balance in the diet of the polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids is also a problem. Even the mono-unsaturates have been taken to task by some of the recent research. And lowfat diets are being shown to be counterproductive.
The lesson to be learned from all of this is that the old-fashioned, more saturated fats form the healthy basis of a good quality diet. And a good quality diet can help to produce a state of vibrant good health. Meanwhile, there is no need to worry about your cholesterol levels. This is a phony issue.
References
- Gary Taubes, “The Soft Science of Dietary Fat,” Science, March 30, 2001.
- Mary Enig, PhD and Sally Fallon, “The Oiling of America.”
- Uffe Ravnskov, MD, PhD, The Cholesterol Myths: Exposing the Fallacy that Cholesterol and Saturated Fat Cause Heart Disease, NewTrends Publishing, Washington, DC, 2000. More info online at: www.ravnskov.nu/cholesterol.htm.
This article appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly magazine of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Summer 2001.
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Hi,
Is taking red yeast rice with co-q 10 harmful ? My overall cholesterol is about 300. Taking red yeast rice in the past has lowered my LDL 40 points. So, between 240-260, it would still be considered “too high”, but I would be OK with it in light of the WP point of view. I do consume raw butter, raw whole milk kefir, whole milk yogurt, and coconut, olive, and cod liver oils daily.
Rita
One of the compounds in red yeast rice, monacolin K, has the same chemical structure as the statin drug lovastatin. So, you’re basically taking a statin drug, but in unknown amounts that may be much higher or lower in each batch.
Taking statins could also lead to brain disfunction and Alz. I would research this if I were you.
I wouldn’t take Red Yeast Rice at all just coq10 and make sure to add 10-20 mg of PQQ. I know Dr. Al Sears, a holistic doctor in FL has both in a formulation and others have separate PQQ. Read up on it.
Another great article AGAINST statins: https://www.ravnskov.nu/2022/02/03/statin-treatment-may-increase-the-risk-of-covid-19-and-vitamin-c-may-cure-it/
I took myself off of Statin drugs after hearing of the negative effects. I am a woman 60 years old and was always healthy and energetic. I felt that over the past few years my energy decreased tremendously and my body hurt all over. I hope my body can rejuvenate? Will I ever feel healthy again? I used to power walk, bike ride, and roller blade. I want my previous life back.
Statins can cause peripheral neuropathy and “body hurt all over” may be a sign of that damage. I took Lipitor for one year at the lowest dose and got PN and also benign fasciculation syndrome. Alpha lipoid acid and acetyl L-carnotine are both good at relieving symptoms.
Yes, ALA and ALCAR are great. I take them every morning together. They can also help keep weight down. One of my favorite doctors was Burt Berkson and he wrote all about this pair of supplements. Read all about him on doctoryourself.com.
I was on statin ,but now on zetia; better results no side effects.
My doctor is trying to put me on Zetia. I read the side affects can give you influenza, liver disease, and upper respiratory issues. No thanks. I believe my “high” cholesterol levels are just fine. Its just hard to get my doctor to stop trying to make me lower my cholesterol with statins or other drugs. He is obsessed with total cholesterol and nothing else. I am much more concerned with insulin resistance.
Though WAPF doesn’t believe in either keto or carnivore, I do. People have been saying from testing that on a meat only or meat and fruit only diets, their cholesterol is going down. Research this.