Xocai Dark Cocoa Chocolate: Is There Any Evidence That Cholesterol-Lowering Foods Benefit Health? - Dr Briffa's e-newsletter

Dear Kelley

Is there any evidence that cholesterol-lowering foods benefit health?

Foodstuffs going by the name of Benecol and Flora pro.activ are enrich with 'plant' stanols or sterols which lower blood cholesterol levels. The promise, is that eating these foods will be good for the heart. This week, the manufacturers of these foods got the green light in Europe to strengthen the cholesterol-lowering claims that can be made for their products. However, as I explain in one of my blogs this week, all of this is quite irrelevant, seeing as there is no evidence that these foods benefit health. In fact, the idea that cholesterol-reduction is inherently beneficial is on shakey ground to say the least. For more on this, click this link.

Note to medical journalists: correlation does not prove causation

A study has popped up this week linking higher intakes of saturated fat with speedier mental decline in later life. However, as I explain in a blog post this week, studies of this nature tell us practically nothing because of the weaknesses and limitations inherent in this sort of research. Unfortunately, some health journalists seem to be blind to the issues and need to have the error of their ways pointed out to them by 'ordinary folk' who appear to have a much better grasp of science. For more on this, click this link.

It seems a lot of diabetics are interested in low-carb eating

Not so long ago I 'debated' on national radio the correct nutritional management of diabetes with a spokesperson from Diabetes UK - a charity that maintains that diabetics should eat plenty of foods which worsen diabetic control. More recently, I came across another, far better, resource for diabetics, and within it a thriving community of low-carb advocates. Many of them appear to have discovered for themselves that the nutritional advice Diabetes UK dishes out is misguided and potentially dangerous. For more on this, click this link.

To your good health!

Dr John Briffa

www.drbriffa.com

email: john@drbriffa.com