| I want to call attention to the "oxidized" part of "oxidized LDL" as that's what makes LDL so dangerous. While pathologies of LDL and fat hog the limelight, it's important to keep a close eye on the third villain in the fight against AS and that is immune system pathologies mainly chronic inflammation. Immune cells kill using peroxides, superoxides and other free radicals. Anyone with an over-active immune system that's triggered easily — allergies, chronic stress, sub-optimal sleep, genetics, exposure to pollutants, metal ions etc¹ — you're better off reducing immune system activity. So yes, eat less fat but also focus on the immune system. A study found 29% of Japanese babies less than 1 year old had fatty streaks and they were not spending the first 11 months chugging slurpies and McDs.⁴ TL;DR:
Dietary fat and adipose tissue/adipocytes involved in AS are two different things⁵, and try not to get oxidized to death by a glitchy immune system while busy chasing fats or the latest fad diet. Fats are just one piece of the puzzle. --- ¹Mechanisms of LDL oxidation: http://sci-hub.tw/10.1016/j.cca.2010.08.038 ²This means sleeping better, reducing stress, taking anti-oxidants, reduce insulin triggers i.e., reduce food with IF/ADF/CR³ and reduce carbs ³Intermittent Fasting/Alternate-Day Fasting/Calorie Restriction. This study finds ADF to be superior to CR; if you can stick to it, that is: Differential Effects of Alternate-Day Fasting Versus Daily
Calorie Restriction on Insulin Resistance — http://sci-hub.tw/10.1002/oby.22564 ⁴https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2812791/ - conjecture is the mothers were smokers, see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2644569/ for more info. Pollution should be focused more strongly when it comes to heart health, the evidence is clear. ⁵Any excess energy gets stored as fat, so reduce fat intake but increase protein or carb intake to compensate? No dice, the body will generate fat for you in the form of adipose tissue which will lead to AS in the presence of an unregulated immune system. |
I've done elimination diets and had blood tests to determine foods I react to. I've also met with nutritionists to create meal plans. But over the long term I tend to gravitate back to foods that my family and friends tend to eat which includes stuff that jacks up my immune system (kid didn't finish her mac and cheese? I'm on it!...visit my Italian mom? pasta time!)
So how do you keep to what you know you should do when other people in your life are doing things to the contrary?