Lies about fat

[TheAwfulToad]

F1's post about fat reminded me it's time for another rant.

Some of you might remember a commercial that ran on British TV during the late 80s or 90s. Unfortunately I don't remember the precise plot, but it was pretty simple: several seconds of someone pouring sticky, gloopy grease down the sink (which naturally clogs the pipes) with the implication that that's what fat does to your arteries.

If the UK advertising watchdog had any scientifically-literate members, they would have pounced on that as one of the most dishonest campaigns ever to be devised.

1) Fat does not get simply poured into your arteries. The process goes like this: as fats pass through your small intestine, they gets snipped apart into monoglycerides and free fatty acids. These molecules are small enough to pass through the intestinal wall; on the other side they are re-assembled into triglycerides and packaged into chylomicrons (large lipoproteins). These enter the lymphatic system and ultimately end up in the bloodstream, where they circulate until something that requires either fat or cholesterol removes them.

2) Arterial plaques are not fat deposits. Although they do contain fats and cholesterol, "mature" atheromas are hard lumps containing a lot of calcium and fibrous material.

3) Atheromas are not deposited on the inner surface of arteries. They are built up - deliberately, we assume - beneath the epithelium. The idea that fat transported around in the bloodstream might "silt up" one's blood vessels is pretty bizarre given the design lifetime of those vessels, and the manner in which fat is transported around (ie., carefully packaged up).

I'm a sample of one, but as far as I'm aware my 15-year experiment with LCHF has not resulted in furred-up arteries. My 1km run time is a shade under 4 minutes. My bodyfat is around 10%. I don't have any of the chronic diseases that affect middle-aged people, nor do I have any of the issues that specifically affect middle-aged men. Apart from a few wrinkles and grey hairs, I look and feel as good as I did in my 20s.

The dieticians will say: ahhh well, you may look healthy, and you may have excellent cardiovascular performance, but you're still going to die of a heart attack, because cholesterol. To which I have two responses:

1) Is that even logically possible? People who eat high-carb low-fat diets acquire Metabolic Syndome with about a 30% "success" rate. By the time they reach my age, many of them are overweight and creaking at the seams. Yet because they follow orders, they're healthy, and I'm not. Hmmmm.

2) But let's say the nutritionists are right. I'm going to die of a heart attack. Well, so what? There are worse ways to go. Cancer, for example. Or COVID-19 - and I'm pretty confident my general state of health gives me a statistical advantage there. I'll happily trade the way I look and feel for an abbreviated life. I certainly wouldn't want to live an extra ten years if it means being overweight, impotent, prediabetic, and lethargic.

[Cooper27]

It's a saying I've seen resurging recently in that case - I wasn't aware of the 80s ad, thought it was a new thing. The water companies also ask that you don't pour vegetable soups down the drain, as they can block the pipes too I suspect you might get away with pouring some sugar water down though, of course that wouldn't make a diet of sugar water a healthy one.

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Cooper27]

Nice reductio ad absurdum there

This idea of "fat blocking the pipes" really captured the public imagination (and medical opinion, unfortunately) because it sounds simple and obvious. The real process of atherosclerosis is boring and complicated, so nobody wants to listen to that.

I've been trying to dig out the original ad on YouTube but no luck. I could have sworn it was there a few months ago.

[Cooper27 in reply to TheAwfulToad]

It's one of those "truthiness" statements that the industry thrives on really...

I think I found a version of the video, it's a 2009 ad so they might have re-made it a few times:

youtube.com/watch?v=MDjir2f...(Not working as expected?)

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Cooper27]

That's the one. I could have sworn it was older than that, so yeah, maybe it's been re-issued as a result of it being wildly successful ... or maybe I'm just old and senile.

And by the FSA, too. In 2009, when it was already becoming abundantly clear from the research that "saturated fat" (whatever that even is - technically, there's no such thing) isn't the proximate cause of CVD. Shame on them.

[MikePollard]

Largely reflects my attitude. Not remotely afraid of the virus despite me being in the high risk category (70). Not obese, diabetic, insulin resistant, no meds, cycle a LOT and push up weights.

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to MikePollard]

Indeed. I can't help wondering if age per se isn't actually a risk factor - it's just that so many older people are overweight, horrifically unhealthy (thanks for that, EatWell Plate) and unfit.

[Hidden]

I wish people wouldnt believe everything the government and "scientists"tell us about healthy eating and fats etc. I feel so much better when im fully on keto that any other eating pattern.

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It's a pity that we can't trust the government and the experts - the people peddling nonsense and calling it "science" brings the whole discipline of science into disrepute, and people stop trusting it. That's a really, really bad thing. We're supposed to be living in the Age of Reason, but superstition and pseudoscience seem to be making a resurgence.

[Hidden in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Its awful that we can't believe our so called health professionals. All the government is bothered about is controlling society and making as much money as they can. But honestly its how its always been.

[Sewnknit]

Love it!

The dearly beloved has been very worried about the way I eat, convinced that the fat etc. is bad for me. He eats the made up spreads and I have butter, that sort of thing.

He's the one getting over the heart attacks.

Now he is looking seriously at LCHF.

He is worried about the size of his middle and his blood sugar levels (family history of diabetes and heart attacks).

He's not totally convinced, but willing to have a go, saying I'm a shining example.

Bless!

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Sewnknit]

Well done for getting the DB involved (or at least cautiously interested). I'm sure he'll feel better when he gives it a try.

[Sewnknit in reply to TheAwfulToad]

Well, half way though the week he was struggling.

Not too keen on what I eat, having stuck to the low fat mind set since Adam were a lad.

But he lost 4 lbs!!

Certainly more interested.

Tiny steps, tiny steps.

[Ianc2]

Impotent?

[TheAwfulToad Ambassador in reply to Ianc2]

I don't think it's a coincidence that viagra sales and statin sales have pretty much tracked each other for many years ...