Eating more saturated fat helps you live to at least 85 years of age

This post contains a summary of a paper published in the American Journal of Cardiology 2011 Feb 4 and a recipe for bacon with garlic mushroom.

Study title and authors:
Relation Between High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Survival to Age 85 Years in Men (from the VA Normative Aging Study).

Rahilly-Tierney CR, Spiro A 3rd, Vokonas P, Gaziano JM.

Books:

Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology and Research Information Center (MAVERIC), Boston VA Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Aging, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

This paper can be accessed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21296318

The study sought to determine whether high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels are associated with survival to 85 years of age. The study included 652 men (average age 65 years) who had at least 1 HDL cholesterol level measurement documented during the study and who were old enough on the date of HDL cholesterol measurement to reach 85 years of age by the end of the study.

The study found:
(a) Men who had HDL cholesterol levels higher than 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/l) had a 28% increased chance of survival to 85 years of age compared to men who had HDL cholesterol lower than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/l).
(b) Each 10-mg/dL (.26 mmol/l) increase in HDL cholesterol was associated with a 14% decrease in the risk of mortality before 85 years of age.

Rahilly-Tierney concluded that: "higher HDL cholesterol levels were significantly associated with survival to 85 years of age".

An analysis of 27 trials found the best way to raise HDL cholesterol is to eat more saturated fat.

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

Recipe of the day

Bacon with Garlic Mushrooms

Ingredients:

Food Mall: Bacon

• 2c sliced mushrooms

• 3 rashers bacon, finely chopped
• 3 T parsley, finely chopped
• 3 T olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
• pepper

Instructions:
Preheat grill on medium-high heat. Place all ingredients in a bowl and combine well. Place on grill and cook, stirring occasionally for 5-8 minutes, or until bacon has become slightly crispy and mushrooms have slightly shriveled. Pepper to taste. Serve straight away.