The religious doctrine known as the "essential fatty acid" claim.

Scientists often use logic to make sense of data. In the field of
"nutritional science," however, the reverse seems to be the case. That
is, abstract categories that make no sense were created when the
founders of this "science" were establishing it as a unique academic
discipline. At the time, they functioned as convenient models to be
tested, but because the experiments that were conducted were often
flawed in major ways, many conclusions were reached that were false.
The 1930 Burr & Burr experiment, which is still being cited as the
cornerstone of the "essential fatty acid" claim, was refuted as early
as 1948, for example (see Britannica Book of the Year, 1948). Terms or
phrases that should be defined precisely never have (for example,
"saturated fat"). And today, because of this and other mistakes (or
whatever one wishes to call these things), "nutritional experts," who
appear to have been trained not to think logically and critically, talk
the way religious "fanatics" do with their "literal interpretations" of
their "holy books.

Let us take a hypothetical that demonstrates my point:

Somone on this newsgroup who attacks my posts often, and who also
possesses intellectual integrity (as I said, this is hypothetical - I
does not appear that such a person exist), decides to take me up on my
experimental offer. We look through the scientific literature and
agree on an acceptable animal model, then we feed several dozen of
these animals a diet similar to the typical American one ( about 30%
calories from fatty acids, along with more calories overall than most
other peoples of the world), but half get canola and fish oil (from the
local supermarket) as the 30% fat calories, while the other get coconut
oil. All the other calories come from food sources the animals are
known to eat in the wild. We begin as soon as the animals can eat for
themselves and we see which group lives longer. Now the results are
that the coconut-fed animals live 25% longer. What could possibly be
the explanation? And here is where the "essential fatty acid" claim
becomes a religious doctrine, that is, those who attack my posts all
the time will never admit that they are wrong, no matter what the
experimental data demontrates beyond any doubt. The coconut-fed
animals will not be getting any omega 3s, and so according to the
"essential fatty acid" claim, there is no scientific explanation as to
why they would live longer. The only thing one can conclude, if one
follows the scientific method (as opposed to "believing" in a notion
that was refuted back in 1948), is the this claim must be false.

Now I'd like to see one person who has attacked my posts about the
nonsensical "essential fatty acid" claims post a response here, saying
something like, "yes, if that is what the experimental results are,
then you are correct, and the essential fatty acid claim must be
abandoned."

Failure to do this will demonstrate that, for whatever reason, they are
clinging to this claim the way a condemned prisoner might cling to a
holy book the day before his sentence is to be carried out by the
authorities.

I am more than willing to put up my own money to do this experiment (if
the results show that the canola and fish oil fed animals live longer),
but, as many of you know, they refuse to even negotiate terms for this
experiment. However, this hypothetical demonstrates that they are
either deluded with a kind of religious fervor, or are being
disingenous for some reason (perhaps some are industry shills).

.

Relevant Pages

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