What does the USDA say about diet?  Limit fats, eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, and increase consumption of whole grains.  What about Michael Pollan?  Eat food.  Not too much.  Mostly plants.  What do I say?  Eat foods in season.  Especially fruits and vegetables.  Don’t stress about fats as long as you’re cooking at home.

All of this advice is compatible, even similar.  You can follow the USDA’s dietary guidelines, Michael Pollan’s mantra, and my culinary advice all in the same meal.  My point is, although new discoveries about health and nutrition are happening all the time, we already know what a healthy diet is.  But for some reason we keep waiting while the evidence again processed, fast, low vegetable, high fat and protein foods piles up.  Well, if you’re one of the hesitaters, here’s a new study to pay attention to.

In a study reported by the American Chemical Society on August 20th, scientists in China stated that another form of cholesterol called oxycholesterol (and you thought you could name all the bad ones) may be the most serious cardiovascular health threat of all.

Unsurprisingly, at least to my mind, is that this threat is coming from a well known corner.  “Fried and processed food, particularly fast-food, contains high amounts of oxycholesterol.  Avoiding these foods and eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, may help reduce its levels in the body.”

One good thing about this new discovery is the fact that it doesn’t really change the tried-and-true nutritional wisdom that is dolled out by the USDA, Michael Pollan, your grandmother, and this website.  In short, eat less processed foods and more fruits and vegetables.  Somehow it’s all comfortingly familiar.