> > > Jean-Louis: > > > Just using cold-pressed oils _instead_ of hydrogenated oil is > > > already a healthful practice. > > Carol: > > Might be just the lesser of two evils. > Jean-Louis: > I don't think cold-pressed oils are "evil"; at worst neutral, > perhaps. Oils are indeed processed, but so are juices (do you also > consider juices as evil?). Carol: Whoa there, J-L! Yes, I did use the expression "lesser of two evils", but that doesn't mean that I consider cold-pressed oils the work of the Devil! :D :D (Sorry. That just struck me funny.) Anyhow... I just meant to say that cold-pressed oils and hydrogenated oils are't necessarily at opposite ends of the health-promotion/health-destruction spectrum. In my opinion, they might not be that far apart. They might both be neutral. As for juice, I drink it myself. (And yes, compared to very fresh, unheated juice from organic produce, I would have to say that the bottled juices found in stores are downright demonic. :D) I think there's a world of difference between juice extracted seconds ago (and at about 50 F) and oil that's been heated to 140 F, filtered, re-filtered, and then left to sit around for a few days, weeks, months... > > > The low death rate from CHD in France (so-called "French paradox"), > > > which is about twice lower than in the US or in North European > > > countries, is attributed to the consumption of red wine and of olive > > > oil > > > > By some. It is attributed to other things by others. > > I just checked the WWW page "FLUID MILK CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA" > <http://www.fas.usda.gov/dlp/circular/1997/97-07-Dairy/milkpcap.htm> > > and I see you are right that the French are moderate milk consumers, > and that Northern Europeans and Americans consume much more milk, > especially Finland which has one of the highest CHD rates in Europe; > and that French people are heavy consumers or butter and cheese, so > the culprit is fluid milk and not other forms of dairy This question was investigated specifically (I'm sorry I don't have the exact reference, but it was in the Townsend Letter.. late last year?) and no correlation was found between levels of non-homogenized milk products (most cheese, butter, and cream) and CHD, whereas a strong one was found between CHD and homogenized milk. The article didn't address this issue, but I wonder if more dairy products are consumed raw in France. I have heard that France is not big on industrial produce (fruits and veggies bred for shipping qualities instead of nutrition and flavor) and huge mono-farms like America is; it seems that consuming dairy products fresh and raw would fit in well with a more small-farm approach. Comments? > (with the cautionary note that correlations are not causes). Of course -- a good thing to keep in mind when it comes to choles- terol and HIV as well. By the way... just yesterday, I happened to come across an interview on NPR with the guy who started the investi- gations into CHD and homocystein, Kilmer McCully. He has a new book out about his discoveries way back in 1969 that lead him to abandon the cholesterol/fat theory of CHD causation and about how he was persecuted for thinking differently. The book is called The Heart Revolution. Might be worth a look. Also on the show was a discussion of bacterial infection of arteries as an emerging risk factor in CHD and stroke. Interesting stuff... :) Carol