REBUTTAL: Coconut water and coconut flesh which are eaten with the saturated fat both contain phytochemicals that lower LDL and coconut oil improves the LDL:HDL ratio. Grain fattened meat does not contain the same kind of saturated fat or the LDL lowering phytochemicals found in coconuts.
When observing other cultures, there's always the possibility of
1) genetic differences
2) the possibility the saturated fats in their diet are not comparible to those found in grain fed meat and dairy.
3) they ate protective foods that lowered LDL
4) they have protective behaviors like extra exercise from hunting and gathering food
The genes, diet and lifestyle of the Masai combine to give them total serum cholesterol in the 120s. There is evidence they might have genetic hypocholesterolemia. And there is evidence that they eat cholesterol lowering saponins. Americans who eat a diet high in saturated fat from grain fed meat and dairy have elevated cholesterol not low cholesterol and an increased risk of heart disease instead of freedom from heart disease.
Phinney SD, Bistrian BR, Wolfe RR, Blackburn GL. The human metabolic response to chronic ketosis without caloric restriction: physical and biochemical adaptation. Metabolism. 1983 Aug;32(8):757-68.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6865775
