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«Saturated fats unquestionably increase cholesterol, increase insulin resistance and these are undoubtedly important risk factors for heart disease and other diseases» (Jim Mann, Human Nutrition, University of Otago)

No doubts. Unquestionable. That was said in a documentary on the Community Channel (UK TV). It was called «What’s Really In Our Food? Ice-cream«. People from UK can watch the documentary here.

«There is one thing I would never concede, and that is that it’s okay to have as much saturated fat as you’d like». Jim Mann

He will never concede that. He knows «The Truth» and he will never change his mind. Was he that sure about sugar not causing obesity?

Many people believe that sugar and other carbohydrates contribute to overeating and obesity. Despite this popular belief, there is little direct evidence that obese individuals eat excessive quantities of sweet foods.» Sugar and our diet (2004), report reviewed by Jim Mann et al., advisors to the Sugar Research Advisory Service

Seven years later…

“There’s enough evidence to suggest recommending a reduction in sugar intake, which is what is going up and is probably a key individual driver of obesity,” . Jim Mann (2011)

When Aseem Malhotra questioned the role of saturated fats on cardiovascular disease (see or see), Jim Mann said he «could undermine the public confidence in leading a healthy lifestyle» and that those concerns are «largely based on his failing to understand the existing literature» (see). Points of view different than Jim Mann’s are dangerous because they undermine the confidence in The Unquestionable Truth about what a healthy lifestyle is. People that question his beliefs do so just because they don’t understand the scientific literature.

But the link of saturated fat to cardiovascular disease is far from an unquestionable truth, according to the analysis of 72 studies that looked at that hypothetical link (see or see). Researchers from the University of Cambridge and Medical Research Council, University of Oxford, Imperial College London, University of Bristol, Erasmus University Medical Centre and Harvard School of Public Health must be failing to understand the existing literature.

If you have a look at the plot of coronary heart disease (CHD) deaths in men versus saturated fat intake in the european countries, what do you see?

We have been given the wrong advice for decades.

Further reading:

• Saturated fats and heart disease link ‘unproven’
• Is Saturated Fat Healthy?
• Nutrition Professor puts sugar in the gun