When someone mentions a/ European guidelines’ I get rather edgy……would be very careful when analysing the advice given, as big Pharma has a hand in this for sure. They have been tangled up with not just the regulating agencies & those agencies that issue these ‘guidelines’.
Not surprised that no mention of the huge damage seed oils doing in the massive consumption of them in processed foods these days.
And the tie up with companies like Unilever, a big player in them, have in funding studies from reputable, supposedly, institutions.
This involves getting other health professionals like dieticians on board too.
They’ve toned down the intake of saturated fat a bit but guidelines leave a lot to be desired, which was not unexpected.
Still waiting* for an explanation (and apology) as to why the food pyramid was kept flawed for so many decades when it was clearly known that it was flawed with the devastating consequences for many in the populations of the world. Of course Big Pharma and allied industries made a ‘killing’ as a result. At least more people are waking up especially after reading books like ‘ Doctoring Data’ by Malcolm Kendrick etc.
That's a valid point - anytime a guideline is created, we should know what the competing interest are. In this case, since the guidelines are first focusing on lifestyle factors before any medications are started, it would be counterproductive to any commercial interests.
Processed foods is actually mentioned - you may have missed it, but it's captured in multiple items on this list. As for seed oils - the data shows that most refined products should be avoided, and that's reflected well in this new guideline. But seed oils as a class on its own posing danger, the data hasn't shown that to be true yet but it's an important signal to continue tracking. For anyone consuming ultraprocessed oils, it's always best to switch to natural fats and oils, monitor inflammatory markers, lipid markers, and metabolic markers and adjust accordingly.
This particular guideline doesn't have a food pyramid listed since it's about ASCVD prevention.
The food pyramid reflects big ag lobbying. You might find www.pcrm.org’s work on this issue of interest. You may find www.nutritionfacts.org a valuable reference,too.
1. Think “apoB / particle burden,” not just LDL-C. Many lifestyle changes (especially fiber, weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats) lower the number of atherogenic particles as well as LDL. For some people, LDL-C and apoB “discordance” is why they feel like they’re doing everything right but labs are stubborn.
2. Soluble fiber is the quiet MVP. It’s not sexy, but it’s one of the most reproducible interventions because it affects bile acid recycling and tends to improve post-meal glucose too. If someone does only one diet change, “fiber-forward” is often the best ROI.
3. Replace, don’t just remove. “Lower saturated fat” works far better when it’s explicitly replaced with unsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, fatty fish) and minimally processed carbs, otherwise people just swap in refined starches and don’t improve risk.
4. Exercise helps beyond weight. Aerobic + resistance training can improve triglycerides, insulin sensitivity, and HDL function even when the scale barely moves, and that matters for vascular biology.
5. And medications aren’t failure. The most modern frame is: lifestyle builds the foundation; meds are a tool when baseline risk and genetics make the target hard to reach safely with lifestyle alone.
When someone mentions a/ European guidelines’ I get rather edgy……would be very careful when analysing the advice given, as big Pharma has a hand in this for sure. They have been tangled up with not just the regulating agencies & those agencies that issue these ‘guidelines’.
Not surprised that no mention of the huge damage seed oils doing in the massive consumption of them in processed foods these days.
And the tie up with companies like Unilever, a big player in them, have in funding studies from reputable, supposedly, institutions.
This involves getting other health professionals like dieticians on board too.
They’ve toned down the intake of saturated fat a bit but guidelines leave a lot to be desired, which was not unexpected.
Still waiting* for an explanation (and apology) as to why the food pyramid was kept flawed for so many decades when it was clearly known that it was flawed with the devastating consequences for many in the populations of the world. Of course Big Pharma and allied industries made a ‘killing’ as a result. At least more people are waking up especially after reading books like ‘ Doctoring Data’ by Malcolm Kendrick etc.
That's a valid point - anytime a guideline is created, we should know what the competing interest are. In this case, since the guidelines are first focusing on lifestyle factors before any medications are started, it would be counterproductive to any commercial interests.
Processed foods is actually mentioned - you may have missed it, but it's captured in multiple items on this list. As for seed oils - the data shows that most refined products should be avoided, and that's reflected well in this new guideline. But seed oils as a class on its own posing danger, the data hasn't shown that to be true yet but it's an important signal to continue tracking. For anyone consuming ultraprocessed oils, it's always best to switch to natural fats and oils, monitor inflammatory markers, lipid markers, and metabolic markers and adjust accordingly.
This particular guideline doesn't have a food pyramid listed since it's about ASCVD prevention.
The food pyramid reflects big ag lobbying. You might find www.pcrm.org’s work on this issue of interest. You may find www.nutritionfacts.org a valuable reference,too.
The Dairy industry still gets its own block.
Loved the practicality of this post!
A couple clinician-level nuances I’d underline:
1. Think “apoB / particle burden,” not just LDL-C. Many lifestyle changes (especially fiber, weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats) lower the number of atherogenic particles as well as LDL. For some people, LDL-C and apoB “discordance” is why they feel like they’re doing everything right but labs are stubborn.
2. Soluble fiber is the quiet MVP. It’s not sexy, but it’s one of the most reproducible interventions because it affects bile acid recycling and tends to improve post-meal glucose too. If someone does only one diet change, “fiber-forward” is often the best ROI.
3. Replace, don’t just remove. “Lower saturated fat” works far better when it’s explicitly replaced with unsaturated fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, fatty fish) and minimally processed carbs, otherwise people just swap in refined starches and don’t improve risk.
4. Exercise helps beyond weight. Aerobic + resistance training can improve triglycerides, insulin sensitivity, and HDL function even when the scale barely moves, and that matters for vascular biology.
5. And medications aren’t failure. The most modern frame is: lifestyle builds the foundation; meds are a tool when baseline risk and genetics make the target hard to reach safely with lifestyle alone.
Really strong post!