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fat-soluble vitamin needed for healthy bones and nervous system, terol levels twice as high as cholesterol fed alone.* Enig's work—
proper growth, mineral metabolism, muscle tone, insulin produc- and that of Kummerow and Mann and several others—merely
tion, reproduction and immune system function. And it is the pre- confirmed what Kritchevsky ascertained decades ago but declined
cursor to bile salts which are vital for digestion and assimilation to publicise: that vegetable oils, and particularly partially hydro-
of fats in the diet. genated vegetable oils, are bad news.
Recent research shows that cholesterol acts as an antioxidant.” However, "Position Paper on Trans Fatty Acids" took no posi-
This is the likely explanation for the fact that cholesterol levels go _ tion at all. Studies have given contradictory results, said the
up with age. As an antioxidant, cholesterol protects us against authors, and the amount of trans in the average American diet is
free-radical damage that leads to heart disease and cancer. very difficult to determine. As for labelling, the authors said:
Cholesterol is the body's repair substance, manufactured in large "There is no clear choice of how to include trans fatty acids on
amounts when the arteries are irritated or weak. Blaming heart the nutrition label. The database is insufficient to establish a clas-
disease on high serum cholesterol levels is like blaming firemen, sification scheme for these fats." There may be problems with
who have come to put out a fire, for starting the blaze. trans, says the senior researcher, but their use "...helps to reduce
Cholesterol is needed for proper function of serotonin receptors the intake of dietary fats higher in saturated fatty acids. Also,
in the brain.*' Serotonin is the body's natural 'feel-good' chemical. vegetable fats are not a source of dietary cholesterol, unlike satu-
This explains why low cholesterol levels have been linked to rated animal fats."
aggressive and violent behaviour, depression and suicidal tenden- Kritchevsky and his co-authors concluded that physicians and
cies. Mother's milk is particularly rich in cholesterol and contains nutritionists should "...focus on a further decrease in total fat
a special enzyme that helps the baby utilise this nutrient. Babies intake and especially the intake of saturated fat... A reduction in
and children need cholesterol-rich foods throughout their growing total fat intake simplifies the problem, because all fats in the diet
years to ensure proper development of the brain and nervous sys- decrease and choices are unnecessary." However, even senior sci-
tem. Dietary cholesterol plays an important role in maintaining entists find that fence-straddling is necessary. "We may con-
the health of the intestinal wall,” which is why low-cholesterol clude," wrote Kritchevsky and his colleagues, "that consumption
vegetarian diets can lead to leaky gut syndrome and other intesti- of liquid vegetable oils is preferable to solid fats."
nal disorders. As a footnote, early in 1998 a sym-
Animal foods containing saturated posium entitled "Evolution of Ideas
fat and cholesterol provide vital about the Nutritional Value of
nutrients necessary for growth, ener- Dietary Fat" reviewed the many flaws
gy and protection from degenerative in the lipid hypothesis and highlight-
disease. Like sex, animal fats are ... low cholesterol levels have ed a study in which mice fed on puri-
necessary for reproduction. Humans fied diets died within 20 days, but
are drawn to both by powerful been linked to aggressive and mice fed on whole milk stayed alive
instincts. Suppression of natural violent behaviour, depression for several months." One of the sym
appetites leads to weird nocturna’ - . posium participants was Davi
habits, fantasies, fetishes, bingeing and suicidal tendencies. Kritchevsky. He noted that the use of
and splurging. Animal fats are nutri- low-fat diets and drugs in interven-
tious and satisfying and they taste tion trials "did not affect overall CHD
good. mortality". Ever with a finger in the
"Whatever is the cause of heart wind, this influential founding father
disease," said the eminent biochemist of the lipid hypothesis concluded
Michael Gurr in a recent article, "it is not primarily the consump- thus: "Research continues apace and, as new findings appear, it
tion of saturated fats."** And yet the high priests of the lipid may be necessary to re-evaluate our conclusions and preventive
hypothesis continue to lay their curse on the fairest of culinary medicine pol "
pleasures: butter and Béarnaise, whipped cream, soufflés and
omelettes, full-bodied cheeses, juicy steaks and pork sausages.
Editor's Note:
This is an edited version of Part 2, with renumbered endnotes. The
been linked to aggressive and
violent behaviour, depression
and suicidal tendencies.
Editor's Note:
This is an edited version of Part 2, with renumbered endnotes. The
complete transcript and endnotes can be downloaded from our web
page