Connor WE, Connor SL. The key role of nutritional factors in the prevention of coronary heart disease. Prev Med. 1972 Mar;1(1):49-83.
Using data from 29 countries this study found the following correlations between the mortality rate from coronary heart disease and certain nutrients in the diet:
positive correlations (risk factors)
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animal protein 0.782
cholesterol 0.762
meat 0.697
total fat 0.676
eggs 0.666
sugar 0.638
total calories 0.633
animal fat 0.632
no correlation
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plant sterols 0.144
fish 0.013
vegetable fat 0.011
vegetables 0.009
negative correlations (protective)
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starch -0.463
vegetable protein -0.403
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The Mediterranean diet is considered to have to most evidence of being a healthy diet, and it is near vegetarian, low in saturated fat, low in animal protein and higher in starch than the SAD. And in clinical trials by Dr. Ornish and Dr. Esselstyn ---- high starch, high fiber, low saturated fat diets consistently reduce cardiac events and all-cause mortality in severely ill heart patients. All of this is consistent with this study that included 29 countries, not just six.
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Furthermore Ancel Keys is accused of making us fat, however the American public never adopted the Mediterranean diet the Dr. Keys recommended. At that time Italy with it's Mediterranean diet had one of the lowest obesity rates in the world. And in general populations with the lowest obesity rates eat the most starch and fiber and the least meat.
COUNTRY/% OBESITY/YEAR/REGION
United States/34/2006/US
Thailand/8/2003/SE Asia
Singapore/7/2004/SE Asia
Philippines/4/2003/SE Asia
Eritrea/3/2004/Africa
Korea, South/3/2001/SE Asia
Japan/3/2000/SE Asia
China/3/2002/SE Asia
Indonesia/2/2001/SE Asia
Madagascar/2/2005/Africa
Laos/1/2000/SE Asia
Vietnam/1/2000/SE Asia
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2013nl/mar/med.htm
