Part 6/15:
He highlights that early studies measuring dietary intake and subsequent disease didn't account for individual differences—genetics, microbiome composition, lifestyle—and that these differences significantly influence outcomes. As such, guidelines based on population averages can be misleading.
Chris adds that the mechanistic arguments—such as saturated fat raising LDL cholesterol or causing atherosclerosis—are increasingly challenged by data showing that LDL levels do not always translate directly into increased heart risk in every individual. He advocates for looking at whole datasets, including centenarians and populations with traditional diets, which often defy the lipid hypothesis.