1st and most important, many of the researches discussed had significant flaws. Smokers, trans-fats, etc.
The China Study rules: The Most Comprehensive Study of Nutrition Ever Conducted and the Startling Implications for Diet, Weight Loss and Long-term Health cancer, prostate cancer, and bowel cancer, authored by T Colin Campbell, the Jacob Gould Schurman Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Biochemistry at Cornell University. His son is an MD and contributed.
The book is based on the China–Cornell–Oxford Project, a 20-year study that looked at mortality rates from cancer and other chronic diseases from 1973 to 1975 in 65 counties in China, and correlated this data with 1983–84 dietary surveys and blood work from 100 people in each county.
Findings ? CHOLESTEROL intake is the #1 enemy (meat versus plant based diet).
Olive oil is the #1 lipid most similar to the lipids of the human body.
3 years ago I went on a ground flaxseed craze, lasted 2 years. 2 ounces fresh ground every morning. I only stopped when my gastro saw stomach irritation from the rough grind inside my stomach walls (colonoscopy).
Last year I had a calcium score done, result: ZERO
Recently my cardiologist ordered a carotid ultrasound and a whole heart ultrasound, I had no problems, I just wanted a "benchmark" at 71 yrs. It all came back normal.
My total cholesterol has been lower than 110 my entire adult life. Now it is 140. I take one fish oil cap every night with lecithin. I am a lap swimmer all my adult life.
So where's the damage from my anecdotal experiment with fresh ground flaxseed ?