Amused, you seem take everything the traditional medical community says as gospel. That's fine. So did until I wised up and did my own research.
Here's some interesting info about the AHA:
23. The AHA is a 1/2billion$/year organization with 3.8 million volunteers. Unfortunately, most of its prevention approach is tainted by the massive soft-money from interest groups [... treating to "targets", reaching number "goals" in lab reports]. The focus is prevention by lowering fat and cholesterol "as part of a balanced eating plan". Its website recommends in general not to take supplements while among the foods suggested are water bagels, molasses cookies, angel cake and [check for yourself] ... frankfurter buns. These are all refined-starch, finely ground flour-based foods, that are high-glycemic, that trigger insulin and that therefore promote obesity and type 2 diabetes which eventually leads to heart disease and stroke.
There are 3 AHA "heart-checks" on Lipton's "Promise Ultra Fat Free Nonfat Margarine" which has "0% fat", zero protein, zero etc. Some Promise, 2 of the 50 nutrients you need: water and supplemented vitamin A. Telling you not to supplement, they endorse an imitation margarine for its supplemented vitamin A. And how about "Smart Beat Fat Free American Flavor Non-Dairy Slices"? Cheers! Also endorsed is the Breakfast Candy listed below, because it contains a piece of a multi-vitamin. Such "nutrient-fortified and enriched starches" [sic] are in evident conflict with the CHD-Taskforce and AHA Dietary Guidelines: "...individuals should choose foods and beverages low in sugars, particularly added sugars.
AHA endorsements are sold for a yearly fee and include Frosted Flakes (42% sugar and only 1 g fiber), Cocoa Krispies ("chocolatey sweetened rice cereal"), Cookie Crisp (sugar and hydrogenated oils) and Cocoa Puffs (1st ingredient sugar: 47% + 0.2 g fiber, 1/125th of your daily requirement --I managed to grow mold on it so it does support life). Then, there's scary Count Chocula, synthesized from de-germed corn meal (corn starch), sugar and marshmallow bits, a hydrogenated Frankenfood through marriage to the equally spooky Frankenberry (95% carbs and 0.2 g fiber -not certified). No joke, but no yolk! No AHA scientists could possibly suggest that Count Chocula or spreads like Promise "fight heart disease and stroke".
If a food has as much as 1/11th of an egg [a whole food with all the nutrients to make a new chicken and no evidence of harm], it won't be endorsed but sawdust with over 10% of 1 of only 6 required nutrients (fiber) qualifies. Endorsements based on low saturated fat and cholesterol and the presence of only one added nutrient is irresponsible. America's most reliable source of heart-health information [according to itself] must change its orientation if it doesn't want to remain part of the core problem. Using its dedicated volunteers and doctors and without corporate money, simple science based advise should be given, endorsing all healthy foods, even without industrial sponsors. One good step: AHA's new position on omega-3 oils (flax, canola, fish-oil). If only the AHA could ban the use of the word cholesterol -that horse has been dead for about 30 years, and it was finally buried by last year's trials that found no fewer deaths from cholesterol lowering. Cholesterol-thinking is poisoning heart associations world-wide; it's time to face these facts, and tell the people.
Donations: Until the AHA gets nutrient-wise and stops endorsing stuff like Cocoa Puffs and puts your donation supported 5 journals free on the Internet [access to Circulation alone is $15/day or $236/yr while for example the great member-financed BMJ is free], Americans and their estates might consider donating instead to the nutrition dedicated Linus Pauling Institute with their free news-letter. Why donate to the AHA, or any similar group, for corporate soft-money tainted drug or or food advice that may well have helped cause illness in the first place? At least the Pauling people are moving forward with practical research and relevant advice. [The AHA gets $90 million per year from estates but spends $100 million on fund-raising alone!]
Link
There's a lot of good info on this site, imo.