Saturated fat not good after all?

[jimtron]

From here:

The meta-analysis of over 70 studies explored the comparative impact of saturated fat (found in meat, butter, and cheese) and unsaturated fat (found in vegetable oils, nuts, and fish) on heart disease. Challenging decades of conventional wisdom, the authors reported no clear correlation between levels of saturated fat and heart problems. Brashly, they concluded: “Current evidence does not clearly support guidelines that encourage high consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids and low consumption of total saturated fats.”

Scientists were unusually vocal in their critiques. The omissions, according to a New Zealand scientist, “demonstrate shoddy research and make one wonder whether there are more that haven’t been detected.” The authors of the study “have done a huge amount of damage,” Walter Willet, the chair of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health, told Science. Deeming the work “dangerous,” he called for a retraction.

 

[shadron]

Considering the title: Saturated fat Fas never been considered especially good for health. Unsaturates are better: the study seems to want to equate them.

 

[jimtron]

Recent Mark Bittman article in the NYT:

...a meta-analysis published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found that there’s just no evidence to support the notion that saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease.

Since the 1970s almost everyone in this country has been subjected to a barrage of propaganda about saturated fat. It was bad for you; it would kill you.

 

[s4zando]

Recent Mark Bittman article in the NYT:

from the link
...a meta-analysis published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine found that there’s just no evidence to support the notion that saturated fat increases the risk of heart disease.
Quote:
Since the 1970s almost everyone in this country has been subjected to a barrage of propaganda about saturated fat. It was bad for you; it would kill you

But doesn't it increase waist size, which, in turn, increases heart disease risk?:
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/bmi_dis.htm

 

[casebro]

I've been eating much fried food, cooked in coconut oil, for the past 7-8 years. Coconut oil is 100% saturated. My HDL was down to 100 last year. And the only studies I've found show a comonality of coconut oil consumption to low heart attack rates. NONE show higher rates.

And slight side track- the highest source of what is the supposedly 'good' fat in the American diet, monounsaturated, is LARD! 40% monounsaturated.

My own body has lowered it's cholesterol levels with weight loss and exercise, and vitamin M2-7, which raised the HDL to the mid 40s. So my theory is that cholesterol levels are an indicator of health in a general way, but NOT the cause CAD. We have lots to learn yet.

 

[Bikewer]

They had the principals on one of the NPR talk shows the other night. Bittman admitted that the title of his article was rather misleading and he'd sort of "jumped on" the original press release.
They had a number of folks from the medical community on as well who pointed out a number of flaws.

 

[Dancing David]

From here:

Was a critically flawed meta-analysis claiming no link between saturated fat and heart disease so quickly lauded by foodies and food writers everywhere because they’re desperate to promote an “eating like grandma” agenda?

 

[jimtron]

They had the principals on one of the NPR talk shows the other night. Bittman admitted that the title of his article was rather misleading and he'd sort of "jumped on" the original press release.
They had a number of folks from the medical community on as well who pointed out a number of flaws.

Is this it?
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/20...g-fat-the-case-for-adding-some-into-your-diet

ETA: Just listened to it, no Bittman. Must be this one...

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/03/31/saturated-fat-healthy-diet-fat

 

[jimtron]

http://onpoint.wbur.org/2014/03/31/s...althy-diet-fat

A lot of back peddling and straw men. A lot of this discussion is about how it's unhealthy to eat refined, processed carbs and sugary foods instead of fat. And criticizing companies selling "lowfat" foods that are otherwise unhealthy. As if doctors were saying and scientists were saying, "don't eat saturated fat, but absolutely anything else you eat, in any quantity, is fine."

At around 35:00 Dr. David Katz straightens things out.