High Fat Diet for Longevity
Art DeVany mentioned this the other day.
The world’s oldest person has just died at 115.
Here are some interesting quotes from the news report:
Parker lived by herself on the family farm until she was 100. At that lofty age, she could still climb a ladder to fix a light, grandson Donald Parker said Thursday. When her family learned she was still climbing ladders, they persuaded her to move in with relatives.
Parker especially enjoyed eggs, sausage, bacon and fried chicken. “I guess we’ll have to rethink lard,” Daniels quipped after hearing about her high-fat diet.
Parker, who credited her longevity to various factors, including education, remained relatively free of health problems in her last years. According to family members, she took few medications and at 113 could still walk.
January 5th, 2009 at 4:58 am
if a high fat diet is so bad for you then tell me that the eskimos have a low life longevity?
dont the eskimos eat blubber all the time and isnt blubber fat? so do the eskimos all have clogged arteries or something? how do they compare heathwise with americans.
January 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am
Innuits have short life spans, I think the average is 30-50.
Eskimos have an average life span of 73
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January 5th, 2009 at 10:02 am
Probably because it's a different kind of fat (not trans), and the oils are natural, and because of climate and hard labor outdoors, they need it and burn it off.
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January 5th, 2009 at 10:04 am
Because the benefits of low fat diets are grossly overestimated. There are plenty of other cultures that don't eat low fat diets and don't have the high death rate we have. I'd say it has to do with the amount of processed and fast foods in the diet.
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January 5th, 2009 at 10:06 am
Eskimos don't actually have that long of a lifespan, depending on which tribe you're talking about. Some go as low as about 20 to about as high as 45.
The thing is, Eskimos eat way different fat. Those "blubbers" they eat are full of omega-3 fats and tons of Vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties. Then again, they're also more prone to obesity, diabetes, and bleeding. Healthwise, though, an Eskimo does seem to have reasonably good health. They're nothing compared to tribes such as the Hunza (who dance well into their 90s) or Okinawans (who can live well over 100 if they follow the traditional Japanese diet).
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January 5th, 2009 at 10:08 am
This is an interesting question. A number of studies are starting to show that a high fat diet — alone — isn't that bad, it is when you combine it with refined carbohydrates that the mortality rates increase.
You may find this article very interesting:
http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do?site=MensHealth&channel=nutrition&category=food.for.fitness&conitem=b675909829731110VgnVCM10000013281eac____
Of note, that article only covers heart disease. It doesn't talk about the higher instances of colon cancer and other sorts of cancers, which have been linked to high-fat diets.
Ultimately, though, I think a large part of whether one can do well on a high fat diet has to do with genetics and how active one is. The Eskimos may be genetically inclined to survive well on a high fat diet since that is primarily the only things they eat — so after time, only those with the right genetics to eat that sort of food would survive. Also, I imagine their lifestyle is far less sedentary than those of us.
I still prefer a lower-fat diet and I find my blood numbers are excellent, I have energy, and generally my immune system is good. Each person will ultimately decide what is best for them based upon their current activity level and how they feel best.
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January 5th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Inuit Indians have a long life expectancy and yes, they do eat a high amount of fats. Do they watch their fats? Fats are used by most cultures that eat a traditional diet. Inuits have access to blubber but Native-Americans had access to buffalo and venison. Their lifespans were similar until they were force onto reservations. Oddly enough, diabetes, scurvy, heart disease were very uncommon among these cultures. One thing lacking was an over abundance of bread, rice and Oreo cookies. It is sugar that causes lipid embalances and one day it will be published for the diabolic criminal it is. until then we have to dig deep into articles like these:
http://www.westonaprice.org/traditional_diets/native_americans.html
http://westonaprice.org/traditional_diets/ancient_dietary_wisdom.html
http://www.westonaprice.org/traditional_diets/sad_changes_american_standard.html
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January 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am
Their body make up is completely different. Their bodies use fat as a way to stay warm and a source of energy. Their overall health is good. What you will find is that they have a low tolerance to some things like alcohol because of the way that their body processes alcohol. Their digestive system processes fat differently than others.
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Experience from working in Alaska.