From Bruce Fife N.D.

Researchers have shown in animal studies that saturated fatty acids actually help prevent stroke rather than cause it.  In particular, Dr. Yamori reported decreased stroke incidence among rats fed a high fat, high cholesterol diet.  In addition, Dr. Ikeda demonstrated a decreased stroke risk among rats fed a diet high in milk fat.  Two ecological studies in the 1980s from Japan found correlations between increased fat intake and decreased death from ischemic stroke in humans.  In another study of Japanese men living in Hawaii, the intake of both total fat and saturated fat was inversely associated with all stroke mortality after adjustment for multiple risk factors.  These studies were generally ignored because they were contrary to the prevailing belief that saturated fat promotes ischemic stroke rather than protects us from it.