Question -- How well does the new CSIRO Diet relate to the French Paradox?
I think your typical French Parisian would be OK with the Australian CSIRO Total Well Being Diet, and would probably enjoy a nice glass of red wine to go with it.
But it is different to the French in several important ways.
The CSIRO Diet has a different view of fats and oils then the French do. They focus on low-fat milk, cheese, and yoghurt whereas the French don't worry about getting a little bit of fat in their diet.
Also the types of fats that the French prefer are different.
The CSIRO Diet recommends 'processed oils' like margarine and canola oil which have carcinogenic properties resulting from high temperature processing and oxidation, whereas the French prefer the more trusted options such as butter, extra virgin olive oil, and duck/goose fat, which are not processed at high temperatures and exceptionally stable and resist oxidation.
If you go into upmarket food stores or organic shops like Jones the Grocer you will find duck and goose fat from France and they are worth trying.
Another area of difference, is the French cuisine is higher in phytonutrients (then the CSIRO Diet) which are those wonderful little plant nutrients that help keep the inner lining of your arteries nice and happy, meaning they reduce inflammation in the arteries.
But we are talking about subtleties here, and people 'coming from a low base' will benefit greatly by adopting the CSIRO Diet.
I think where the book Cholesterol and The French Paradox would be helpful to those adopting the CSIRO Diet, is that it provides the reader with a more in-depth understanding as to why some foods are better then others. You would be better off eating normal cheese (like Brie or Parmesan) that's made from simply milk, culture, and rennet - and without additives.
In summary, the CSIRO Team who produced the book should be heartily congratulated for their fine efforts, and in getting many Australians on to something that's very good for their health and longevity.
Common sense suggests that Mother Nature did a good job in the evolution of the human body, and was unlikely to make a mistake with a little molecule called cholesterol, including its LDL or HDL versions. But there is this belief that cholesterol is a problem, and consequently we see some people reducing their cholesterol consumption to nearly zero, and then in addition, taking powerful medications to stop their body from making any cholesterol.
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