I think it is pretty well established that you can control blood fat
levels by means of a low fat diet.  That is certainly true in my case.
My total cholesterol had risen above 200 in my thirties, when I first
tried to control it with diet.  First I limited my saturated fats, and
that did some good, but in my 50s I went on a low total fat diet.  My
total cholesterol has been as low as 130.   More recently I've slightly
increased my fat intake, concentrating on monosaturated fats such as
olve oil, but still my total fat intake is very low compared to the
average.  My LDL value is very low also.   I'm 72, and I have no
evidence of heart disease, and I would like to keep it that way.  And,
of course, I don't need to take cholesterol lowering drugs.

I believe my experience is borne out by medical research.  Of course,
even people with low cholesterol levels have heart disease and even
arteriosclerosis.   But on the average they do better than those who
don't limit fat intake.

It is interesting that one's body adapts to a low fat diet pretty
quickly.  Now, when I eat a fatty meal, I feel sick afterwards, and I
don't really miss the fat.

There have been published clinical studies indicating that a low fat
diet can control the growth of prostate cancer.

In a study carried out at UCLA's Jonsson Cancer Center (Feb, 2004
http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0001492/63/,
"Laboratory mice with advanced human prostate cancer that were
deprived of the hormone testosterone were fed a diet low in
polyunsaturated fats and remained in remission about twice as long as
mice fed a diet with a much higher fat content, the study found. The
mice on the low-fat diet also lived nearly twice as long as those on
the high-fat diet."

A recent study caried out by Dr. Dean Ornish and co-workers, tracked
93 men with nonagressive prostate cancer (on watchful waiting).  These
men were divided into two groups:  one on a ultra low fat diet (10% of
total calorie intake), the other with average daily fat consumption.
After one year, the group on low fat experienced a 4% decline in PSA,
the other group experienced a 6% increase in PSA levels.
(August 2005,
http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0001492/63/ )

There is also the legendary story of Michael Milken who in 1993, at
age 46, was diagnosed with prostate cancer (PSA 24, Gleason 9, spread
to lymph nodes).  Along with radiation and hormone therapy (as I
recall) he changed to a vegetarian, soy-based ultra low fat diet (no
more than 10 grams a day), including other modalities such as
meditation and massage.  He has had undetectable PSA levels since
then.

I personally consume no more than 30 gram of fat per day in a non-red
meat diet (very low dairy, with vitamins and other supplements) in an
effort to prevent recurrence of PCa.....  RRP in Aug 2003.

Dennis

"Stavros" asked

Low SAT (and trans) fat.
Even Pritikin has come around on that, and that's for heart patients.
Additionaly, the Atkins Machine quietly admitted recently that we should eat
much less sat fat that they originally advocated.

I.P.