The traditional diets of Okinawa, Sardinia and Crete – that resulted in the long-lived people of those cultures – were not awash with saturated fat or meat. Try reading Dan Buettner’s “Blue Zones” book for an idea of the diets. He spent a lot of time with these people. And of course the many scientific reports as well.

For example, here is a quote from an interview with an aged and healthy Okinawan:

“Like most people here, we had to live off what we produced. We ate sweet potatoes three meals a day and maybe some fish. Once a year, during the lunar New Year, we’d slaughter the family pig and eat pork.”

Here is the traditional Sardinian diet (from Buettner):

“The classic Sardinian diet consists of whole-grain bread, beans, vegetables, fruits and, in some parts of the island, mastic oil (a plant oil). Sardinians also traditionally eat pecorino cheese . . . Meat is largely reserved for Sundays and special occasions.”

This is very traditional Mediterranean pattern.

The diets of those cultures are changing and have changed with westernization and increasing affluence. But formatively, they were all high-carbohydrate, low saturated fat, high plant food diets.

Actually, I went to this site that you recommended as proving Okinawans ate a high saturated fat diet:

http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/his_4.html

Here is what it says under Foods of the Common People:

“The upper classes regularly ate rice. The middle classes consumed a mixed diet of rice and potatoes [sweet potato]. However, the potato supplied more than ninety percent of common peoples’ diet.”

http://www.japanupdate.com/?id=6715

The only people who believe the low saturated fat/cholesterol myth either:

do not get out much

or

were CONNED by Ancel Keys and the FARCICAL anti cholesterol movement.

Saturated fat restriction is a MISERABLE FAILURE for reducing CAD mortality and incidence. And I can readily back this up with the results of 26 prospective studies and 18 randomzied (some double blinded) clinical dietary intervention studies. ALL of which are discussed in Anthony Colpo’s book in detail.

What a shame a small bunch of men ( Ancel Keys, Jerimiah Stamler, Senator McGoivern, Frederick Stare set America’s dietary guidelines BASED ON NOTHING.

The anti cholesterol cartel needs to be EXPOSED for the FRAUDS they are and COLPO does this PERFECTLY.

I suggest you take a look at the Okinawan government’s own site. They ADMIT this. http://www.wonder-okinawa.jp/026/e/his_4.html

To say Sardinians eat low animal products is a NONSENSE too

Once you STOP BELIEVING THE LIES OF ANCEL KEYS, you will see the TRUTH

There is NO ASSOCIATION between saturated fat consumption and cholesterol levels and CAD WITHIN nations when all 22 are included

Keys omitted 16 DELIBERATELY

Also saturated fat consumption increased 260 % from 1960-2001 in Japan. if saturated fat increases mortality rates thern SOMEONE FORGOT TO TELL THE JAPANESE.

For their increased animal fat consumption has NOT affected their rise to near the top of the longevity ladder ……..

When will YOU REALIZE Paul that it is the fact the Japnese consume FAR MORE EPA and DHA ( saturated fat makes you absorb it better- bet you did nto know this) THAT is the REASON they do so well

it has NOTHING to do with saturated fat.

The average Japanese person has far greater EPA/DHA levels in their blood than Americans or Australians……..

he actually WENT THERE and sampled ALL THE TRADITIONAL LOCAL CUISINE.

Saturated fat rich to say thge least. Fatty sausages, fatty cured meat, fatty lobster sauces, pork fat etc drizzled on top of meat, cheeses.

It is YOU who has been taken in by the LIES of Ancel Keys.

Anyone even remotrely familair with TRADITIONAL Greek Italian and French cuisine knows it is ANYTHING but low saturated or total fat……..

Anthony Colpo comes from Italian stock. He knows this too.

The stupidity ……..

The traditional diet of the long-lived Sardinians is quite low in meat, as is the traditional Mediterranean diet of Crete. There is no doubt that this is changing as more western patterns are adopted.