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Cholesterol Concepts:
cholesterol, cholesterol medications, doctors, foods, heart disease, health, drugs, French, Australians, Americans, statins, life, guidelines, French Paradox, risks.
The Cholesterol myth
[Please note that the views and opinions on this website are written specifically for Cholesterol and Australians, and not necessarily for readers from other countries where the dietary or lifestyle regime may be different. However you are very welcome to review this information. Further, these views are posted for your education on the various views on health and cholesterol and DO NOT constitute medical advice]
Question -- What is the relevance of The French Paradox?
The relevance of The French Paradox is that it provides solid proof that cholesterol and saturated fats do not primarily cause heart disease. The French Paradox also provides epidemiological (the study of large groups of people) proof that saturated fats do not cause heart disease.
In support of this, doctors, scientists, researchers, and authors around the world have written countless papers over the past three decade (30 years) explaining that the saturated fat theory is a fabrication or 'a furphy' for those into Australian colloquialism.
The book 'Cholesterol and The French Paradox' summarises the fine work done by some of these wonderful academics and researchers to whom we are all indebted.
Question -- How does Australia compare to the USA on cholesterol?
I think you need to elevate the question to a higher level, by comparing American and Australian death statistics rather than just cholesterol.
In 2003 the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported that Australians will on average outlive Americans.
Australian males live to 77.9 years whilst Americans will live to only 74.6 years. Whereas Australian women live to 83.0 whilst American women live to only 79.8 years.
Certainly if Americans were living longer than Australians, then it would make sense to follow their lead, but that's not the case. I think Australians need to ask themselves, whether the cholesterol guidelines that are compiled in the USA, are actually applicable to our needs in Australia. Our dietary habits and longevity are much closer to France, so we should be looking at that country for insight since the French enjoy low levels of heart attacks.
There are many people in Australia who cannot understand how you can use 'cholesterol guidelines' that were derived from population studies done in the USA where there is a high intake of fast foods and convenience foods - and apply that to Australians.
Australians live differently, and eat more fresh foods like the French.
I was amazed when I was in Broome recently, which is a lovely isolated community that is 1700 km (1050 miles) away from its nearest main city of Perth, and yet the local Broome supermarkets had all the same foods and produce that you find in the main capital cities.
So getting back to the point, we need to look at cholesterol from a purely Australian standpoint, and not be influenced by overseas statistics. That means that a large number of Australians, particularly those who don't have coronary heart disease, can either reduce or abandon their cholesterol medication under medical supervision.
The newer generations don't have the reluctance that their parents had, about questioning their doctor, and they insist on having an active voice in their own healthcare. This may be the reason why there is a trend towards complementary medicine such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine etc which focuses strongly on the patient/practitioner relationship.
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