A recent study demostrates the role of systemic inflamation in CHD and that CRP, a certain protein related to inflamation, is twice as good an indicator of CHD than cholesterol levels. http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/conditions/11/13/heart.inflammation.ap/index.html I wonder if the French paradox might be related to their consumption of herbs, such as garlic, which have the effect of reducing inflamation... http://www.goodnessdirect.co.uk/articles/garlic.shtml John B