The raison d'etre of this website is to provide you with hard scientific information which may help you make informed decisions in your quest for health (so far I have blogged concise summaries of over 1,500 scientific studies and have had three books published).

My research is mainly focused on the effects of cholesterol, saturated fat and statin drugs on health. If you know anyone who is worried about their cholesterol levels and heart disease, or has been told to take statin drugs you could send them a link to this website, and to my statin or cholesterol or heart disease books.

David Evans

Independent Health Researcher

Saturday 17 April 2010

Patients enjoy improved cholesterol and weight loss on a high saturated fat diet

This post contains a summary of a study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings 2003;78:1331-1336 and a recipe for Asian beef heart stir-fry.

Study title and authors:
Effect of a High Saturated Fat and No-Starch Diet on Serum Lipid Subfractions in Patients With Documented Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
Why We Get Fat: And What to Do About It
Books:
JAMES H. HAYS, MD; ANGELA DISABATINO, RN, MS; ROBERT T. GORMAN, PHD; SIMI VINCENT, PHD, MD; AND MICHAEL E. STILLABOWER, MD
From Cardiology Research, Christiana Care Health Services, Inc, Newark, Del. Research grant funding by the Department of Medicine at Christiana Care Health Services, Inc.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.mayoclinicproceedings.com/content/78/11/1331.full.pdf

Twenty-three patients obese nondiabetic patients with cardiovascular disease participated in a 6-week trial to determine the effects of a high saturated fat and avoidance of starch diet (HSF-SA), on weight loss and cholesterol levels. 

Also fifteen obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and 8 obese patients with reactive hypoglycemia were monitored during an HSF-SA diet for 24 and 52 weeks, respectively.

The study found:
(a) Patients with cardiovascular disease lost 5.2% of their bodyweight.
(b) Dangerous triglyceride levels decrased.
(c) Dangerous very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels decreased.
(d) Low density level lipoproteins (LDL) changed from (the bad) small and dense type to the more healthy large and fluffy type.
(e) Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome lost 14.3% of their bodyweight and patients with reactive hypoglycemia lost 19.9% of  their bodyweight at 24 and 52 weeks, respectively, without any adverse effects on their lipoprotein levels.


The high saturated fat diet improved the cholesterol profile of the patients, and they also experienced a substantial weight loss.

More information on this subject: Books : Scientific Studies : Websites : Videos : Food Mall


Recipe of the day

Asian beef heart stir-fry

Avi Glatt Kosher Beef Heart - 1.5 LB.
Food Mall: Beef Heart
Ingredients:
•Cooking fat, tallow is perfect here
•1 beef heart;
•1 1/2 cups green or yellow zucchini;
•1 tsp grated ginger;
•Juice of 1 lime;
•Fresh cayenne pepper to taste;
•Thinly sliced chilli for garnishing;

Technique:
Cut your heart into bite-sized cubes after having removed the fat and connective tissues. Heat your wok and stir-fry the heart in cooking fat. Remove the heart from the wok and set aside. Reheat the wok and stir-fry the zucchini with more fat for 1 minute or 2. Add the ginger, lime juice, cayenne pepper and return the heart cubes to the wok. Stir-fry for another minute to blend all the flavors together and bring out the flavors of the ginger and cayenne pepper. Serve garnished with sliced chilli.