Something new I learned from the book: research seems to indicate that homocysteine plays a major role in heart disease. Cholesterol may still be a contributing factor, but then again so are arteries.

Homocysteine is elevated when there is a lack of ... B12 and B6, folic acid... not that we never mentioned those on here.

The research done by Dr. Kelly is fantastic. He was one of the ones who never bought into the cholesterol theory, and he's also the one who probably first thought about inflammation (and possibly homocysteine) playing a major role. Combined with smoking, genes, diet, lifestyle, transfats, a bad omega3/omega6 balance this may explain quite a bit. What is clear though that cholesterol on its own seems to be totally statistically irrelevant when it comes to heart disease.

People like Kelly and for example John Yudkin deserve a statue for the research they have done, despite all the ridicule they had coming their way. And, in a way, so does Atkins.

Sobering thought: even my thoughts and feelings (and thus this sobering thought) would be impossible to have without cholesterol. Yes, our very core being is made mostly out of the stuff. That's almost hilarious!