***"Only one quarter of serum cholesterol comes from dietary input, so limiting the amout of cholesterol you eat will have minimal impact."

---It may be true that dietary input only accounts for so much of serum cholesterol, but one quarter is not an insignificant portion, and it is the only portion over which we have complete control. So, it seems logical, that if high cholesterol is a problem for us, we first modify where we can do so easily(i.e. by reducing or eliminating our intake of dietary cholesterol- which is ONLY present in animal products).

***"Cholesterol and heart disease was a shadow of its current self 100 years ago when we ate much more animal fat than we do today."

---I STRONGLY disagree with this statement. We consume MUCH MORE animal fat and animal products now as a society than we did 100 or more years ago. And high cholesterol and heart disease have only become more widespread accordingly. Our general affluence, and our ability to preserve meats and dairy products have only relatively recently made them commonplace dietary staples for Americans. Previously, they had been primarily enjoyed by those of the upper classes and were seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. As was being overweight. (Coincidence? I think not.) For the majority of people, meat was consumed in limited amounts, and the diet was primarily composed of vegetables and grains. Most people simply could not afford to eat animal products as regularly as most people do now.

***"It’s also completely unknown, now, in most of Africa where I expect they eat according to long-established traditions that prominantly feature animal products."

--- Good try, but no. Although there are certainly hunters and native traditions, Africa is poor, and does not have anything remotely resembling the kind of animal agriculture we have in the US. Their farming is largely subsistence farming, ours is large scale and for profit. HUGE difference. Yes, they do eat meat. But because of the economy, the soil conditions, tradition, etc. they consume fewer animal products than we do. Staples of african food are yams and sweet potatoes, lentils, okra, nuts, peppers, chickpeas, pumpkins, bitter greens, couscous, etc. And yes, they also have fewer problems with cholesterol and heart disease, but it's not because they eat MORE meat! Quite the opposite.(on a side note: They also have almost NO osteoporosis, and dairy products are almost completely excluded from the diet. Their lower protein intake -due to less animal product consumption- reduces their need for dietary calcium to meet the requirement for healthy bones and teeth, as excess protein limits the absorption of calcium).


***"Cholesterol, I believe, is more a product of latter-day lifestyle, homogenised milk and hydrogenated fats being just two suspects identified so far."

The process by which milk is homogenized doesn't have anything to do with the cholesterol in milk, nor with how our body produces cholesterol when we consume it. Also, hydrogenated fats are from chemically altered plant oils, and as I've said, plants contain no cholesterol whatsoever- period. (Cholesterol is a hormone produced by animals exclusively).

***"I imagine those that learn they have high cholsterol and reduce their animal intake probably make other sweeping lifestyle changes too, and that it’s the latter that makes inroads to the excess cholesterol, not the former."

---I can only speak for myself, but I made no sweeping changes at all other than completely eliminating animal products and I am much much healthier as a result.