Saturday 7

Published: Sat, 12/16/23

Good morning!

Here's your Saturday 7 roundup!

🥩 What we got wrong (part 1):

Butter consumption has dropped 62.5% over the last 100 years.

Beef consumption has dropped precipitously over the last 40+ years.

But vegetable oils have soared.

And so has obesity...

While correlation isn't causation, inverse association makes causation highly improbable

For the last generation, we've blamed the wrong fats.

But apparently Hong Kong never got the message...

Hong Kong ranks #1 in the world in meat consumption per capita and ranks #1 in life expectancy.

Macao ranks #3 in meat eating and #2 in longevity.

❌ What we got wrong (part 2):

In the mid 20th century, scientists started to point the blame at cholesterol.

But if cholesterol is so bad for you, then...

...why does your liver make more when your intake is low?

...why is breastmilk the most cholesterol-rich food?

...why are all the most nutrient dense foods rich in cholesterol?

Actually, cholesterol hasn't been a nutrient of concern since 2015.

Buried on page 91 of the 572-page Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee:

“Previously, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommended that cholesterol intake be limited to no more than 300 mg/day. The 2015 DGAC will not bring forward this recommendation because available evidence shows no appreciable relationship between consumption of dietary cholesterol and serum (blood) cholesterol, consistent with the AHA/ACC (American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology) report. Cholesterol is not a nutrient of concern for overconsumption.” (r)

Why has this not been popularized yet?

💘 What (seems) we got (somewhat) wrong (part 3):

A new study shook the nutrition world.

Dave Feldman and colleagues published a study showing elevated cholesterol might not be the death sentence we've thought.

Researchers compared ketogenetic dieters who have had very high LDL cholesterol ("LMHR") for almost 5 years to a matched control group.

Results: There was no relationship between LDL levels and arterial plaques.

Being healthy and having "high" cholesterol just might not be the same as being unhealthy and having high cholesterol (more on this research is coming Feb 2024).

P.S.

Here's more on cholesterol and a carnivore diet.

💡How to never regret a day:

Dr. Richard Feynman said, "never regret a day in your life."

Good days = happiness

Bad days = experiences

Worst days = lessons

Best days = memories

🧠 What quote I've been thinking about:

Being human involves seeking direction without a roadmap, but over time, external influences drown out the internal voice guiding you. The uniqueness within you is the source of your power; don't waste it.

– Robert Green, on finding purpose (paraphrased)

💸 What I would(n't) do:

Dodger superstar, Shohei Ohtani, signed a record 10-year, $700M deal.

While the amount is staggering, I found the structure of the deal most intriguing. Of the $700M, $680M is deferred until after the contract and will be paid without interest from 2034 to 2043. (r)

I have no idea why Ohtani would take this risk.