Dr. Gabe Mirkin's Fitness and Health e-Zine
July 27, 2008

Saturated Fat Risks Cancelled by Exercise

       The Masai of Kenya and Tanzania eat the same type of
high animal-fat diet as North Americans, but they have a very low
incidence of heart attacks.  In spite of the large amount of
saturated fats in their diets, they have lower body weights, waist
measurements, blood pressures and cholesterol levels (British
Journal of Sports Medicine, July 2008).   This is explained by the
fact that the average Masai burns 4,000 kilocalories a day, which
is roughly equal to walking 12 miles every day.
       Saturated fat is the dominant fat in meat, chicken and
whole milk dairy products.  It raises cholesterol only when a
person takes in more calories than he burns.  A high-meat diet
does not cause heart attacks in people who get a lot of exercise.
Saturated fats are broken down by your body into two-carbon
units. If you are getting too many calories, your liver converts
these two-carbon units into cholesterol. If you are not getting
enough calories, your body burns these units for energy.
       When you take in more calories than your body needs,
you store the excess as fat. Full fat cells release cytokines into
your bloodstream, and they turn on your immunity. Your immunity
is good because it protects you from infection, but if it stays
overactive, it starts to destroy your body including your heart and
blood vessels.  The bottom line: if you eat much saturated fat, be
sure to get plenty of exercise.

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Side note: I don't think saturated fat or any fat can turn into
cholesterol.  It's sugar which is used by the liver to make the
cholesterol.

Taka