The Big "Fat" Lie
Saturated Fat and Cholesterol: The Truth About What’s Really Harmful
For years, we've been told that saturated fat and cholesterol are the enemies of good health, leading to heart disease, obesity, and more. But here’s the truth: they’re not the problem. The real culprits? Sugar and seed oils. These two, together, are wreaking havoc on our bodies in ways we’ve been misled about for far too long.
Why Saturated Fat Is Misunderstood
Saturated fats are actually essential for your body. They help build healthy cell membranes, support hormone production, and even improve brain function. Fats like those found in grass-fed meat, coconut oil, and butter are vital for your overall health. They can even support healthy cholesterol levels, and they don’t cause heart disease.
Cholesterol: Key to Brain Health
Cholesterol often gets a bad rap, but it’s crucial for brain health. About 25% of your body’s cholesterol is in your brain, helping to form the connections necessary for memory and learning. Low cholesterol levels are linked to a higher risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and cognitive decline. In fact, studies have shown that higher cholesterol may actually help protect against brain issues as we age.
Sugar and Seed Oils: The Real Culprits
So, if saturated fat isn’t the issue, what’s really contributing to diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and dementia? The answer is sugar and seed oils. Sugar promotes insulin resistance and inflammation, while seed oils (like those in processed foods and margarine) are high in omega-6 fatty acids that trigger inflammation and damage cells over time. These oils are especially harmful to brain cells. When consumed in excess, they can lead to oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, damaging neurons and impairing their ability to communicate. This damage is a key factor in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia, as the brain struggles to repair itself.
These ingredients, when combined, create the perfect storm for chronic diseases. Yet, they’ve become staples of the modern diet, especially since the "low-fat" movement pushed people to avoid healthy fats in favor of processed, sugary foods.
Ancel Keys and the Low-Fat Myth
The whole “fat causes heart disease” theory began with Ancel Keys, a researcher who cherry-picked data to support his agenda. He blamed saturated fat for heart disease, but his own experiments with margarine (which contains harmful trans fats) showed that it wasn’t the saturated fat causing the problem—it was the processed oils. Even Keys later admitted that trans fats were likely to blame, but by then, the damage was done. Seed oils and margarine became the norm, while the myth about saturated fats stuck.
Big Food and Big Pharma: The Profit Machine
The reason this myth persists today is because of money. Big food companies, especially those that sell seed oils, benefit from the low-fat narrative. These oils are in nearly every processed food, and replacing natural fats with them means higher profits. Pharmaceutical companies, meanwhile, profit from the rise in chronic diseases linked to poor diets, selling medications to manage conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Time to Set the Record Straight
The truth is that saturated fat and cholesterol are not the villains they’ve been made out to be. In fact, they’re necessary for optimal health. The real problem is sugar and seed oils, which are linked to a host of chronic diseases. If we want to take control of our health, we need to stop listening to outdated advice and start making informed choices. Prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods, and remember that healthy fats are a crucial part of the equation.