My favourite scientific myth is "cholesterol causes heart disease" evangelized by Ancel Keys [1] in the Seven Countries Study [2]. From there, we developed plant oil. From plant oil, we developed margarine. From margarine, we discovered trans-fat. And we found the trans fat causes coronary heart disease, hence in full circle. Worse still, from the fear of cholesterol, we developed "cereal that lowers your blood cholesterol" and the drug statin [3]. And also by focusing cholesterol, we down played the health hazard of consuming sugar because there is no such thing as cholesterol industry while sugar does.
I'm overly generalizing here without much reference. If there is interest I will dig up more material.
I'm overly generalizing here without much reference. If there is interest I will dig up more material.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancel_Keys
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Countries_Study
[3] https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260239-the-truth-about...