Yesterday, we spoke about surrogate measurements- and why these don’t always provide the data we seek.  Because cholesterol is just that (even though it is cheap and easy)- and does not really tell us the conditions of our heart and circulatory system the way folks believe it does.

Which is why all those dietary restrictions that were proclaimed starting some four decades ago (since 1961) needed to be reconsidered.   This is especially true, since the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (a joint effort of both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture)  no longer considers cholesterol a nutrient of concern.  And, there is no scientific basis for that ersatz 300 mg of cholesterol a day limit.

So, the prohibition against eggs, liver, shrimp, or lobster (keeping kosher means those last two have no bearing on my life, since “the higher authority” proclaimed them off limits some 3000 years ago) are being removed. Instead, we now need to be concerned with “too many servings” of butter, milk, pizza, and fatty meats (are there any other kinds?).   The data indicates that it’s the saturated fats and trans fats (there will be more about these in a few days) that are our problems.

Before I get too far into this discussion, let’s make sure that we recognize this is a fact for most people. But, if you already know you have heart problems or you have diabetes, then these foods and these new recommendations do not apply to you whatsoever.

Now, the lifting of the prohibition against eggs comes at a time when we are expecting a shortage- due to the epidemics that are decimating our avian flocks.   Nevertheless, this action is really long overdue.  Because we’ve known for some 5 years now that there was insufficient evidence to pick on the levels of cholesterol in our diet.  That means there were no scientific studies that proved cholesterol to be the villain we all were told it was. (The studies were too broad in scope to be able to single out this one compound.)

And, as I’ve said, we know that the way folks process cholesterol is different.  (That is above and beyond the fact that there are four different types of “bad” cholesterol- and only two of them are probably lethal.)  One of the reasons why those already cognizant they have cardiac compromises or diabetes cannot follow these new rules- but still avoid these cholesterol laden foods, unless and until further data demonstrates otherwise.  (Don’t hold your breaths, though.)

Monday, we’ll cover some of the proposed new cholesterol treatment therapies- and what that really means for all of us.

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