Fat & Cholesterol: Friend or Foe?

The fact that excess fat & cholesterol clogs arteries and ultimately leads to heart attacks, and in some cases death, is common knowledge. The majority of doctors, registered dietitians, politicians and lay folk have accepted this "lipid hypothesis" as gospel since the latter half of the 20th century. The upshot of this theory has directed dietary guidelines, food science, pharmaceutical agendas, and medical practice, procedures & billing.

If eating foods containing saturated fats* & trans fatty acids raises levels of low density lipoproteins (aka. LDLs) which contributes to "hardening" of the coronary arteries; then the prudent thing to do would be to avoid foods rich in saturated fat or processed with (ie. fried) partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Right? That would make American stand-bys and favorite comfort foods, like cheeseburgers w/ fries, chicken pot pie, and mac & cheese, bad for you. What about love? Can't mom's doting and affectionate intentions act as an antidote to rich, down-home ingredients with which she cooks? Nope, not according to the science.

Just because the USDA issues dietary guidelines to help the populace adopt "good dietary habits to promote health and reduce risk of major chronic diseases," doesn't mean you have to follow them. Were you actually paying attention to the government in 2005, the last time its advisory committee published recommendations? Are you anxious to hear what the official word will be when the latest guidelines are finalized & released this year? Will you offend grandma the next time she tries to serve you her wickedly delicious meatloaf and mashed potatoes?

From what I've observed in life and on TV as well as the things I read on-line, in magazines and newspapers; I believe that American consumers fall into four distinct categories.

1. The ignorant (or just plain irresponsible)

These are the folks who eat fast food at least 3 times a week. Some will claim that they'd like to eat more healthfully but don't have the time or money. I can only sympathize for people who rely on government support to feed their families and lack access to fresh, healthy foods. I have nothing polite to say about parents who feed their obese, pre-diabetic children fried and processed foods without remorse.

2. The responsible

You don't have to be perfect to fall into this category. Diners who are aware of the connection between diet and health don't always make choices which would meet approval by the American Heart Association. In my mind, you don't have to be a militant vegan who shuns all animal products or macrobiotic devotee to be a health conscious eater. In fact, I think it better that you allow yourself a "treat" every now and then (but not too often). If you think you're holier-than-thou because you don't put fattening food, sugar or whatever in your mouth, then you may have orthorexia. In which case, you should speak to a shrink.

3. The proud rebellious

Then there are those who go out of their way to show off their indulgent habits and behaviors, which they know are not politically correct. Take for instance, the proprietor and employees of the Heart Attack Grill, whose tagline is: "Taste Worth Dying For." They offer a Quadruple Bypass Burger [trademark] consisting of four ground beef patties, 8 slices of cheese with all the fixin's (minus the lettuce) between a bun. The manager calls himself "Dr. Jon" and the waitresses walk around dressed as nurses who pretend to check your vital signs.

Anthony Bourdain and Adam Richman, hosts of "No Reservations" and "Man v. Food", respectively; are two people who also come to mind. They travel around the country and the world looking for the most enormous, repulsive and fattening meals. These two so-called 'food authorities' are proud to eat a day's worth of food in a single sitting in front of the camera. Sensationalism may not be responsible but it sure boosts ratings for the Travel Channel.

4. The contrarian

And finally, there is the minority of consumers who don't believe everything they hear via mainstream media channels and aren't afraid to question authority. They refuse to accept nutritional dogma which they claim is based on flawed scientific studies. One such vocal community is the Weston A Price Foundation (in the interest of full disclosure, I am a paying member of this organization). Their official stance is as follows:

Current USDA dietary guidelines are based on the flawed notion that cholesterol and saturated fat are unhealthy. They are unrealistic, unworkable, unscientific and impractical; they have resulted in widespread nutrient deficiencies and contributed to a proliferation of obesity and degenerative disease, including problems with growth, behavior and learning in children. The US government is promoting a lowfat, plant-based diet that ignores the vital role animal protein and fats have played in human nutrition throughout the ages.

They can cite peer-reviewed research and anthropological evidence to disprove modern dietary opinions and many medical theories which ignore the role of diet & lifestyle. Like-minded communities who also question the credibility of our country's elected & appointed officials and suspect unethical research practices include proponents of the Paleolithic, Atkins and The Maker's Diets.

In addition, there are plenty of chefs & diners who simply ignore approved nutritional advice because they simply prefer "old-fashioned" foods and recipes. Chris Cosentino is one of the more well-known chefs leading the "tail-to-snout" movement with his refined preparation of offal. Organ meats, including liver, kidneys, hearts and glands, which were once eaten out of necessity are now relished by adventurous diners in our industrialized society willing to pay big bucks for the least expensive parts of the animal - parts they would have thrown away in disgust a few years ago before celebrity chefs began celebrating frugality in the kitchen.

Which category do you fall under? Is this something you are proud about or could you care less?

*Note that this statement is inaccurate in its simplicity. Not all saturated fats raise LDL. While the type of saturated fatty acid predominate in beef, palmitic acid, does raise LDL; stearic acid, which you'll find in abundance in chocolate, has no effect on LDL. Lauric acid, a major component of coconut oil, raises LDL as well as HDL. And unless you cut out all sources of fat from your diet, even healthy sources like nuts and avocados, there is truly no way to avoid consuming the saturated kind. All natural sources of the macronutrient contain a combination of poly-, mono-, and un-saturated fatty acids (determined by the number of double bonds in the molecule). Mother Nature must be telling us something, don't you think?