The Great Cholesterol Con

Malcolm Kendrick’s, The Great Cholesterol Con debunks the cholesterol controversy and suggests that the link between heart disease and what we eat has been massively exaggerated by Big Pharma. Why? So that they can flog their cholesterol lowering drugs. In fact, Big Bad Pharma has gone as far to downplay alternative approaches to heart health so that they can continue to line their pockets, rinsing us of our hard earned cash and worse, how we control our health.

Dr. Shanahan explores the connection between nutrition and health, highlighting the link between traditional diets and natural foods and low rates of chronic diseases. She highlights that a nutrient-dense diet that includes a variety of whole, unprocessed foods is key, emphasising the importance of consuming foods rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support overall health, warning against the consumption of processed and refined foods, which often contain harmful additives, artificial sweeteners, and trans fats that can negatively impact health. This processed fare contains certain vegetable oils, particularly those high in polyunsaturated fats, such as soybean oil, corn oil, and canola oil, which Shananhan argues, can be detrimental to health due to their high omega-6 fatty acid content, which can contribute to inflammation and various health issues.

Whilst this may not seem overly groundbreaking, Shanahan highlights the significance of healthy fats, such as those found in avocados, nuts, and olive oil, for brain health, hormone balance, and overall well-being. She challenges the misconception that all fats are harmful and we love that! Why? Because the low fat craze has been detrimental to our mental health, it has ruined our gut microbiome, it has left us starving and made us put weight on.

Much like Shanahan, Kendrick highlights that dietary cholesterol, found in foods like eggs and shellfish, does not have as significant an impact on blood cholesterol levels as once believed and that not all saturated fats are harmful. Instead, he shares Shanahan’s views, highlighting that eating a nutrition dense diet, focusing on whole foods, good fats, fruits, vegetables is needed, rather than obsessing solely over cholesterol levels.

Shanahan, Kendrick and Berry highlight that a more balanced approach to nutrition is needed and that conventional, old hat wisdom might need to evolve to secure physical, mental and emotional well-being.  Fancy that! Let’s help spread this message, shall we, FFS! 

In order to fuel your body in the most healthy way and as a symptom of these behaviours, to lose weight, you need to lose those panicky feelings around food and you need to let go of everything you have been told.  The only way you can achieve this guilt free existence, this bliss point, is to understand that it’s definitely not about eating less and it’s most definitely not about eating ‘diet’ foods or low fat substitutes; it’s about eating a combination of good fats, foods rich in amino acids and food that is high in protein.  It’s about learning what to avoid, what is going to make your cravings rage and what’s going to destroy your gut health. 

The reality of it is, when you crash diet, you store fat because your body panics and goes into survival mode - it’s an evolutionary thing. The minute you revert back to your normal eating habits, you quickly pile on the pounds because your body now believes that you are going to starve it again or fill it with harmful chemicals found in the so-called ‘diet’ foods that you have been surviving on.  This in turn messes with your Leptin levels -the hormone that tells your brain that you are full - meaning that you will be more likely to overeat.  When the crash diet ends, you feel hungry all the time and you’re back to square one. 

We have been indoctrinated to believe that fat makes us fat, that it will give us heart disease and high cholesterol and persuaded to swap out natural fat for low fat substitutes made with inflammatory refined oils which are full of sugar. This results in a suffering gut that cannot function and do the brilliant things it does for our whole selves, hormone imbalances and an endless search for satiety and subliminal snack seeking. 

As a first step on your road to recovery, it’s important that you know what to look out for and what to avoid.  By counting chemicals rather than agonising over how many calories there are, you will be taking the best care of your body.  As a rule of thumb, put down any package that lists ingredients that don’t sound like food. If you don’t recognise it, it shouldn’t be going in your mouth, e.g. gums, veg oils, dextrose (any ingredient that ends in ‘ose’ is usually sugar’), emulsifiers…

Eating organic produce is important if you want to be sure that your veggies and meat are as pure as can be.  Whilst organic can be expensive, you can be sure to avoid the factory farmed meat produce that is pumped with hormones or the veggies that are sprayed with toxic chemicals. In the long run, eating organic will ensure that you hit your nutritional goals much quicker because you won’t be on that constant hunt for satisfaction, ultimately saving you money.  You will also be able to sleep at night knowing that you’ve done your bit for the planet. 

If you don’t opt for organic, make sure you wash your veggies in baking soda and apple cider vinegar to remove the pesticides. Stay away from the fat in non organic meat as this is where the residue of the omega 6 will linger and where it has been pumped full of antibiotics and toxins. This can play havoc with your own hormone balance and gut health. 

To ensure that what you’re eating has been treated well and not kept in hideous, cramped conditions, look out for the following badges on meat packages: The Soil Association, The Organic Association or EU Organic. We would always suggest that you only eat ‘outdoor reared’ produce, not only for your peace of mind but also to keep your gut happy. 

We have been conned into paying a premium to become overweight as most food in a packet contains fake fats!  When you begin to understand that Big Food does not care about your waistline and health and only cares about lining their pockets with your money, you will be encouraged to get back to basics and improve your overall health and well-being. Let your fridge in on a bit of boycotting because when you eat food that is good for you, you will find satiety and you will be less likely to overeat.  Once this happens a little bit of magic does too because your body will start telling you that it no longer wants ultra processed fare, low fat substitutes included, that simply spike your insulin and make you hungry. 

If you are buying dinner in a packet, you need to look out for these inflammatory oils, aka, bad fats: 

• Sunflower oil - the absolute Devil, used to clean farmyard machinery, highly inflammatory and processed, worse for your body than sugar
• Vegetable oil
• Rapeseed oil
• Soybean oil
• Canola oil
• Corn oil
• Safflower oil
• Sesame oil that isn’t cold pressed
• Peanut oil
• Palm kernel oil
• Vegetable oil spreads
• Cottonseed oil
• Margarine
• Vegetable shortening
• Partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oil
• High stearic or stearic rich fat.

These oils cause inflammation, which in turn causes disease.  If you take note of how these oils make you feel, you will likely be given the incentive to steer clear.  If you feel rubbish, the likelihood is, it’s inflaming you.

Fat makes you feel full and stops those pesky cravings. More than 60% of your brain is made of fat, so it makes sense that it’s what your body is telling you it wants and what it needs to function optimally. In addition, we need protein as it transports energy and oxygen around our body and repairs cells. Your body needs a certain amount of fat and protein every day, and research suggests that we simply keep eating until we give it what it requires. Eating well isn’t about eating like a rabbit, it’s about ensuring that your body is getting what it needs to prevent cravings and eating as close to nature as possible. 

If you spend your day carbing out, you will crave more food because you haven’t reached your protein level. A lack of protein can lead to muscle weakness, a slow metabolism and even anaemia.  Protein, like fat, helps you feel fuller for longer; your body has to use more calories to digest protein - so it not only burns fat, but supports your metabolism. Any meats, seafood, cheese, nuts, seeds and beans are great sources. 

Feeding the brain with good fats is a detoxifier and a motivator. A Fatty Coffee is the best tool in your armoury to stave off the crave.  It will keep you full, stop you from snacking and it will prevent the jitters. Your body is hardwired to use carbs as energy, meanwhile it stores the fat you consume. If fat is the first thing you consume, a switch will flick and your body will burn fat as your fuel instead. If you stay on the carb train, your blood sugar will constantly spike and you will spend your days trudging through a snackathon. However, if you become fat adapted, you will feel satisfied and be able to walk away from the biscuit tin with no regrets.  

We have got you covered when you’re out and about: our MCT Powder sticks are the perfect travel companion to support those pesky cravings that are triggered the minute we walk out the door. We have dedicated a number of blogs to the power of MCT and How to WillPowder using MCT, which gives you all the information you need to become “fat adapted” and find your energy.  

L-Theanine is a supplement that is the perfect fatty coffee partner as it inhibits the overstimulating effects of caffeine, aids sleep and reduces belly fat. 

If coffee isn’t your bag, Matcha tea is a great alternative to add MCT Powder or Oil to.  It’s an anti-inflammatory and great for autophagy as well.