The original study that ‘proved’ saturated fats cause heart disease was done in the 50’s on rabbits. Not surprising the rabbits didn’t fare well on saturated fat as rabbits are not carnivores. The study was done by a researcher with an agenda (imagine that!) to show that saturated fat causes cardiovascular problems.
Here’s a good summary from webmd stating that there is no conclusive evidence of an association between heart disease and saturated fat:
http://blogs.webmd.com/life-with-diabetes-2/2010/06/is-saturated-fat-a-big-health-problem.html
As far as fat, calories consumed, and their influence on cholesterol levels and heart disease, there is lots of evidence from the long-term Framingham study that show no correlation between saturated fats and cholesterol level and heart disease. But that didn’t stop the lead researcher (again, a researcher with an agenda!) from ignoring his own data and saying he still believed there was a correlation.
See Framingham study:
http://www.proteinpower.com/drmike/cardiovascular-disease/framingham-follies/
Heart disease prevention has so much money tied up in it that there will always be people with an agenda. Sorting out the facts takes some extra work. Even the cholesterol-lowering drugs don’t reduce risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol, the drug makers themselves say that reduction comes from the blood thinning aspects of the drugs.
What you said ;o)