I agree as long as it’s from pasture raised animals that aren’t exposed to a lot of chemicals. Unnatural diets can alter the composition of animal fat in undesirable ways, and fat is also where chemical toxins tend to be stored.

Your hesitation is totally understandable. When I first started learning about these issues, I didn’t think it was possible for the general public to be deceived so badly. However, I’ve read so many appalling stories about government being negatively influenced by corporate interests that it’s no longer surprising, just disappointing and sometimes infuriating.

I don’t expect you to simply take my word for it and I encourage you to read the material I referenced to help you decide for yourself. In regard to the FDA, read about the Vioxx controversy and the questionable approval of aspartame. The fast approval of genetically modified foods raises a lot of questions as well. You can read about that in Seeds of Deception by Jeffrey Smith. Also read about how FDA is heavily influenced by the drug industry and what they let drug companies get away with. It doesn’t take a lot of digging to find that even the FDA’s own scientists admit that the agency is out to please the food and drug industries more so than protecting the health of the general public as it’s supposed to do. Many of these scientists are calling for reform.

If the FDA is not being completely transparent with us, and hospitals and other institutions are relying on information from the FDA, than it shouldn’t be too difficult to realize that we may not be able to trust everything they say either. I know that can sound pretty alarming, and I’m not suggesting that the mainstream medical community should never be trusted, but rather that it’s important to be informed and not blindly trust medical professionals or organizations based only on their perceived significance.

In regard to cholesterol and saturated fat, I recommend reading The Cholesterol Myths by Uffe Ravnskov for a detailed analysis of how the dogma that cholesterol and saturated fat cause heart disease is weakly supported by research. I also recommend reading $29 Billion Reasons to Lie About Cholesterol by Justin Smith and Know Your Fats by Mary Enig which I referenced in this article. There are many other resources as well, but this should be plenty to get you started. Even if you choose to disagree with the material presented, at least you’ll be informed.

Sure, saturated fat can cause you to gain weight if you eat too much of it, but I think excessive consumption of carbohydrates, particularly the refined variety, is the problem for most people. It also depends on nutritional individuality. Many people have lost a lot of weight by following a diet based on natural whole foods that also happens to be generally low in carbohydrates and higher in protein and fat. I’ve lost 30 pounds since transitioning to such a diet and have maintained about 10% body fat since. I also eat a lot of saturated fat. However, I’ll reiterate that although everyone should consider a diet based on natural whole foods, individuality can make a big difference for some people which means that it’s not appropriate for everyone to consume larger quantities of protein and fat.

It’s pretty easy to point out a major flaw with Body Mass Index. Consider a very fit and muscular NFL running back who has very little body fat, is 6 feet tall, and weighs 225 pounds. Their BMI would be over 30 and classify them as being obese. Not just overweight, but obese! Some running backs are shorter and heavier than this while still having little body fat which would make their BMI even higher. While most people don’t have enough muscle mass to cause this scenario, it’s obvious that BMI is a flawed measurement, especially for people who are both muscular and have a small to moderate amount of extra fat. Using calipers to measure body fat has it’s drawbacks too, but I think it’s a better method.

And, does saturated fat make you FAT? I’ve heard mono-unsat. are better than poly-unsat. fat as well.

Even on hospital websites, we are told how bad sat. fats are. So, based on the few articles I’ve read (including yours), hospitals are actually giving out HARMFUL info? I’ve also been reading about how BMI is not an accurate way to measure body fat, and the BMI is ALSO listed on hospital sites as the proper way to measure BMI. So it’s disconcerting to see this harmful info. that’s so readily accepted.

I’ve got to admit that the dangers of sat. fat and cholesterol are SO drilled into me that its very hard to accept something else, BUT, if the reverse IS true, I’m usually the first to inform people of any alternative beliefs and I get a lot of “come on! that’s bs!”

Keep in mind that there is no correlation between the intake of natural saturated fat and high cholesterol levels or heart disease. If you doubt this, I highly suggest that you read The Cholesterol Myths by Dr. Uffe Ravnskov. Since this book is sometimes unavailable, you could also read his other book Fat and Cholesterol are Good for You, or you can read The Great Cholesterol Con by Dr. Malcom Kendrick.

I agree with you that it’s best to avoid soy (unless fermented) because of the enzyme inhibitors, phytic acid, and phytoestrogens that it contains and because it’s often genetically modified and heavily sprayed with pesticides. However, I certainly don’t agree that coconut oil and palm oil are harmful. If you’re willing to reconsider your stance on saturated fats, I recommend that you read about how they’ve contributed to the exceptional health of many traditional cultures. A great place to start is the excellent work of Dr. Weston A. Price.

As you probably know, many people are consuming an excessive amount of omega 6 essential fatty acids in relation to omega 3. Among the many problems this can cause, it promotes inflammation and increases the risk of heart disease. The grape seed oil that you’re praising in favor of coconut oil and palm oil is three quarters linoleic acid which is an omega 6 fatty acid. It’s also important to realize that oils that contain mostly polyunsaturated fats, as is the case with grape seed oil, are very unstable and susceptible to oxidation and rancidity. This too increases the risk of heart disease and other health issues. For a better understanding of fats and oils, I suggest reading the book referenced in this article, Know Your Fats by Mary Enig PhD.

Assuming you have your blood pressure numbers reversed, 105/60 is actually somewhat low and is not necessarily desirable. For example, it could potentially be an indication of adrenal fatigue. In regard to both blood pressure and cholesterol, too many people make the mistake of thinking lower is always better without realizing that low levels can be bad too.

I’m grateful to anyone who shares my articles, even if it’s in disagreement.

BEWARE of what some “breast cancer support sites” tweet! Some of them give you misinfo! Like this tweet here.

I don’t make any attempt to avoid red meat and eat just as much beef as I do any other meat. Based on the premise of nutritional individuality, we all have different capacities for digesting meat, and the health of one’s digestive system can play a significant role as well. I can digest plenty of red meat without a problem, but my wife is much different. Whether you choose to eat red meat or not, it’s definitely a good idea to make sure it’s pasture raised.

As long as you have sufficient protein in your diet and aren’t overexercising, you shouldn’t have to worry about losing muscle. In regard to losing chin fat, you can’t choose where fat comes and goes. The best that you can do is follow a healthy lifestyle and let your body naturally choose where it will shed fat. If you continue to live healthily, you should eventually reach your ideal body weight.

Hopefully your fiance has chosen to no longer take birth control pills. They contain synthetic hormones which are potentially dangerous and can contribute to hormone imbalance.