> Date:    Sun, 15 Feb 2004 20:07:06 -0800
> From:    Lurisia Dale <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: saturated fats
>
> A passage in Dr. Cordain's book _The Paleo Diet_ discusses the dangers of
a diet
> which is BOTH high-fat and high-calorie.  I was curious if anyone on this
list
> has another view on the subject, or knows of any references that have
another
> view.  I'm trying to research all sides.  Here is the passage (p.12):
>
> > Their blood cholesterol levels still went
> up, from 159 to 208 on average in just thirty-five days.  This study and
others
> prove beyond a doubt that diets high in saturated fats--no matter how low
the
> carbohydrate content--will raise blood cholesterol levels when caloric
intake
> levels are normal.
>

To give any credance to what Cordain is saying you have to believe in the
mainstream medical position  that cholesterol is bad and that anything above
200 is potentially harmful. I do not hold that position and think it is
untenable. The only virtue I see in making cholesterol the bogey man that
the establishment has is that it creates lots of ongoing quick doctors
visits and massive sales for the drug companies. I would suggest "The
Cholesterol Myths" by Uffe Ravnskov or, if you can find a copy, Pickney's
"The Cholesterol Controversy" )which was published in the 70's I believe - I
can't put my hands on my copy right now).

As for myself I eat paleo, eat absolutely no processed sugars of any kind,
the only oils I use are olive and coconut oil, I've eliminated all
polyunsaturated oils from my diet and strive to eat as much saturated fat as
possible. After eating this way for a year and a half my cholesterol is 170
with good ratios. FWIW blood sugar is 85 and tryglycerides are 70. I only
know this because so many people had inquired about my numbers when they saw
or heard about how I eat.

I guess m,y point of view is that Cordain went PC on the cholesterol
saturated fat issue to gain greater acceptance. His book is not on my list
of recomended books.

Chuck