The Healing Fats

FATS THAT HEAL FATS THAT KILL - The Complete Lecture

 

PART ONE - INTRODUCTION

Understand this basic concept: Some fats kill and other fats heal. If you want to be healthy, know the difference, and choose dietary fats accordingly.

If you manage to take away with you only one fact from this article, please take the foundational point to the story of how fats affect health-a single sentence that explains why FATS THAT HEAL

FATS THAT KILL is the title of my book and of this presentation.

This one sentence crystallizes the truth about fats, and begins to clear up the confusion and misrepresentation that surrounds this vital topic.

Two stories must be told on fats and oils, not just one. Most of our confusion about the effects of fats and oils on health comes from knowing only half the story. Let me illustrate the double story on fats and oils by giving a few examples.

Some fats promote cancer; other fats inhibit cancer. Some fats inhibit immune function. Other fats are required for and enhance our immune system.

Some fats make us more susceptible to a stroke or a heart attack. Other fats protect us from heart attacks and strokes. Some fats lead to, and others reverse atherosclerosis. Some fats increase triglycerides (blood fats). Other fats lower blood fats. That's right! Fats can lower blood fats.

Some fats interfere with, while others are required for insulin function.

Some fats interfere with, while other fats are absolutely vital for brain development and brain function. And these fats are extremely important for the health of women, especially during pregnancies.

Some fats slow you down, but other fats increase your energy level.

Understand also that fats don't make you fat, and that the essential fats, used in the right ratio to one another, can be used very effectively for fat reduction and weight management. If you want to die sooner, you should also know which ones to pick. We want to treat everyone equally!

Western and affluent high fat diets contain the wrong fats for health.

They lack some of the good fats, contain too much of the unnecessary fats, and are destructively processed, changing some of their molecules into toxic ones. Such fats increase cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, premenstrual syndrome, and other degenerative diseases.
 

The low fat (no fat) diet that is the rage today leads to stunted growth in children; dry skin; low energy levels; high cholesterol; high triglycerides; compromised immune function; leaky gut and allergies; lower testosterone production; and, as you will see a little later, cause many other health problems.

Low fat foods taste like cardboard (fats enhance taste), and they deprive many people of great tasting foods. Manufacturers deal with this problem in a rather interesting way. They load low fat foods with sugar, which your body turns into the hard (saturated) fats they claim to be avoiding by making these low fat foods in the first place. What a ridiculous idea! What a bad joke for health!

What we need is not a high fat, low fat, no fat, or fake fat diet.
We need the Right Fat Diet.

PART TWO - KILLER FATS

Most of the health problems that we blame on fats should be blamed on the destructive processing to which fats have been subjected!

This point has been overlooked by most researchers and educators, but it is the critical issue that makes the difference between the fats that heal and the fats that kill-processing!

Hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils are widespread in breads, cakes, candies, cookies, granola bars, crackers, digestive biscuits, pancake mixes, raisin bran, instant soups, chocolate, desserts, fruit cakes, chips, convenience and junk foods, peanut butter, some salad dressings, and even in the croutons used to make your 'healthy' Caesar salad. Research suggests that they ought to be absent from the foods of anyone interested in health.

According to research studies, trans- fatty acids
 

increase cancer risk factors (interfere with liver detoxification, change B and T immune cell ratios, interfere with the functions of anti-cancer fatty acids);

elevate cardiovascular risk factors (elevate total cholesterol and 'bad' LDL cholesterol, lower 'good' HDL cholesterol, make platelets more likely to stick to together to form a clot, increase the strongest known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (lipoprotein{a};

interfere with insulin function, making diabetes worse, and more likely to occur;

decrease testosterone, increase abnormal sperm, & interfere with pregnancy in animals;

correlate with low birth weight babies, & lower human breast milk quality;

change the fluidity of cell membranes, making them more leaky, thereby lowering cell vitality; and

interfere with the healing fats - essential fatty acids - required for health.

Three oil processing methods turn fats that heal into fats that kill:

1. Hydrogenation turns oils into cheap, plastic, spreadable, shelf-stable fats. It twists healing fats trans- fatty acids present in margarines, shortenings (sometimes listed as 'vegetable shortening'), shortening oils, and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.

2. Frying. Research consistently shows that fried (over-heated) fats correlate with increased cancer and cardiovascular problems.

 

The oils best for our health, those richest in the healing essential fats, become most toxic when fried. But frying heat also damage hard, stable, saturated tropical fats and butter.

The browned (burned) parts of fried, deep-fried, toasted, roasted, baked, broiled, barbecued foods are toxic. By definition, toxic means: 'of, or relating to, poison'. And poison, by definition, is: 'any substance that, when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism causes death or injury'. Either quickly, or slowly. In the case of toxic oils, they do their poisoning job slowly.

The inner part of burned (browned) foods is fine, because it does not reach burning temperatures-it is actually steamed in the water it contains.

The best oil for frying? If health is what we want, water is the only oil appropriate for frying. We're back to steaming, poaching, boiling, or pressure cooking our foods. Or, even better in most cases, eating them raw.

3. Refining and Deodorizing produces colorless, odorless, tasteless, oils-the equivalent of white sugar and white flour, products from which most of the nutrients required for health have been removed.

Except for extra virgin (green) olive oils, which remain unrefined and undeodorized, all oils not labeled: 'Unrefined' have been harshly treated: degummed-treated with sodium hydroxide, an extremely corrosive base; refined-treated with extremely corrosive (phosphoric) acid; bleached with bleaching clays, producing rancidity (peroxides)-unpleasant odors and tastes; and deodorized: over-heated (above frying) to remove the rancidity produced by bleaching. Toxic molecular alterations take place at those temperatures. These oils, especially corn and safflower oils, are associated with increased cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Some (perhaps 0.5 to 1.0%) fatty acid molecules change into toxic molecules. Phytochemicals with health benefits, that make up about 2% of most oils are removed. Some healing fats are destroyed. At least one study suggests that when oils are heated above 150°C or 302°F, they are converted from protective against mutations to mutation-causing. We can only guess with concern what damage to future generations these oils may cause.  

 

Excess of hard fats - the saturated fats in pork, beef, lamb, dairy and tropical fats have existed in nature for a long time. Our body uses them in cell membranes, in fat deposits, and as fuel. When we consume more than we use, they make platelets more sticky, interfere with insulin function, and interfere with functions of the healing fats.

If we work hard physically (like our grandparents), we can burn a lot of hard fats to produce energy. Sedentary, we need far less fuel, and cannot stay healthy if we eat grandfather's high hard fat diet. The more hard fats we eat, the more of the healing fats-essential fatty acids-we need to consume.

If we optimize our intake of essential fats, made with health in mind, and in the right ratio of omega 3 to omega 6, then we can use saturated fats in moderation without fear. We can then use whipping cream in our coffee, butter on our bread, and sour cream on our potatoes (but, since the starch in the potatoes can make us fat, we should probably eat the sour cream by itself!).

This is, in fact, another key point you need to understand. It is more important for health to optimize the consumption of essential fats than it is to avoid the bad fats. The fats that heal protect us from the fats that kill. If you removed all the bad fats from your diet, and did not bring in the good ones, you would still die from degenerative disease, because you cannot live without the good essential fats.  

 

Sugar, even in small amounts, kills.

Sugar is not a fat, but our body turns sugars into the same hard fats that make platelets sticky; interfere with insulin; and interfere with healing fats. Sugar also damages teeth; feeds bacteria, yeast, fungus, and cancer cells; increases serum triglycerides; interferes with vitamin C transport and immune function; increases adrenalin production by up to 4 times, a powerful internal stressor; cross-links proteins and speeds aging; and steals calcium, chromium, and other minerals from the body.

If the 120 or more pounds of sugar that Westerners consume annually were replaced by 120 pounds of honey, maple syrup, brown sugar, rice syrup, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, or other similar sweeteners, the cause would have the same effect. Detrimental results on health would be similar.

Summary: Health problems can be caused by high fat diets;

low fat diets; oil processing; excessive hard fats; and sugars.

Good grief! What's left to eat?

 

 

PART THREE: EFA's - The Healing Fats

 

Now comes the exciting part! There are 50 essential nutrients that our body cannot make, but must derive from food. Two of these, called essential fatty acids, (EFAs) come from fats and oils. One is alpha-linolenic acid (omega 3); the other is linoleic acid (omega 6). Both are easily destroyed by light, air, and heat. This is why they become toxic when fried. EFAs are major nutrients. We need them in tablespoon, not milligram, amounts each day.

EFA FUNCTIONS Energy production. EFAs make red blood cells more flexible, which means that they can find their way through capillaries more easily. The result is that tissues and cells receive their supply of nutrients and oxygen more effectively, and stamina therefore increases. According to feedback from athletes, this effect is noticeable within a week, usually within 3 days, of adding 3 tablespoons (3 times 14 grams) or more of the EFA-rich oil blend we developed to do our work.

EFAs can also increase oxidation, energy levels, and stamina, most obvious to athletes, elderly people, the overweight, and the middle-aged, but also in some young adults and children. They improve athletic performance both in strength and endurance sports. They speed recovery from fatigue.

They can also improve performance and recovery in dogs, horses, and birds. Retired animals may be able to compete again because EFAs bring their energy back. Working dogs pull heavier loads farther. Young birds perform like adults. Race horses perform better and recover quicker.

Older people who use fresh, EFA-rich oils find that their energy levels pick up noticeably. They can increase physical activity; get tired less quickly; recover faster; feel more like being active; and stay alert later in the evening. This energy is not a buzz like you get from coffee, but a stable, sustained, extended energy.

People with cancer, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue-conditions associated with low energy-find that their energy is "up", and they feel better.

People who lack the energy to enroll in a fitness program find that the right kinds of fats - those rich in EFAs with emphasis on omega-3's - give them the energy they need to work out.

Weight reduction
 

EFAs ability to increase metabolic rate helps us burn more calories. Instead of being used as fuel, they are converted into hormone-like prostaglandins. These fats keep us slim! EFAs help our kidneys dump excess water in tissues, which constitutes significant extra weight in some people. Cravings which result from not getting the nutrients we need, subside. EFAs satisfy that craving.

In fact, EFAs are exceptionally good at satisfying hunger. EFAs elevate mood and lift depression-a reason why some people overeat. Elevated mood and increased energy levels make us feel like being active.
 

Here's a key point on fats and body fats:

The commonly held belief that fats make you fat is completely wrong. Those who are seriously overweight are almost always fat-phobic carbohydrate junkies. They avoid fats, develop food cravings, and eat sweet and starchy foods. The body does not need the carbohydrate fuel that sweets and starches provide. The body turns into fat all carbohydrates that are not burned for energy.

It is not easy to convince people who want to lose weight to eat more fat. But consider this. In the last 10 years, our intake of fats has decreased from 42% of calories to 35%. This in response to national dietary goals set by experts who operate on only half of the story on fats. It is clearly the wrong advice to give, because in those same 10 years, obesity has gone up, from 20% of the population to 33%. What does that tell you? It's common sense!.

Eating less fat is making us fat. We should be eating more fat. But remember, it should be the right kind of fat. Not the processed fats, but the essential ones.
 

EFA Effects On Major Body Systems:

Red blood pigment (hemoglobin) formation requires EFAs. They also play roles in cell growth and cell division.

Brain development and brain function. 60% of the weight of our brain, the fat-richest organ in our body, is fat, and one third of that is EFAs. Agree with the teacher who calls students 'fat-heads'. The ratio of omega 3s to omega 6s in the brain is 1:1.

Children with learning problems benefit from freshly prepared dietary EFA-rich oils, if the omega 3 to omega 6 ratio is right. They learn faster, and focus better. According to research, their intelligence can increase by 6 to 9 points. EFA-deprived mother rats produce pups with permanent learning disabilities.

Nervous horses calm down by correcting their EFA intake. Horses' natural diet, grass, contains more omega 3s than omega 6s (ratio is 60:40), but they usually get only refined, cheap corn oil rich in omega 6s, but too little omega 3s (ratio is 1:100).

Behavior improves in dogs and cats by adjusting EFA intake to levels and balances they obtained under ideal conditions in nature. Dogs and cats need less omega 3 than horses, but still need both EFAs; most pet foods contain no omega 3s.

Corrections. Given omega 3-rich oils, incorrigible juvenile delinquents unresponsive to counseling became receptive to counseling. EFAs could play important roles in rehabilitating criminals.

We shouldn't expect the brain to fire on all cylinders if its essential nutrient needs remain unmet. After all, the brain too, is made entirely from foods. If our foods don't satisfy our brains' biological requirements, we cannot expect it to work right. And then, our behavior also cannot be right. That's a basic law of behavioral biology.

Mental Illness.

Because EFAs lift depression and elevate mood, many depressed people would benefit by improving intake and balance of EFAs. Schizophrenics hallucinate less when EFA intake improves. EFAs ought to be key nutrients used to treat mental conditions. Dramatic improvements have sometimes been recorded in Alzheimer's disease and senile dementia. Parkinson's, Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), and multiple sclerosis also respond positively to improved EFA intake, but may require additional interventions, especially protease enzymes, greens, and anti-oxidants.

 

Skin, hair, and nails.

EFAs form a barrier in our skin against loss of moisture, protect us from dehydration, and prevent many problems involving histamines, prostaglandins, and inflammation. The barrier function of EFAs helps prevent dehydration, and the constipation and toxicity caused by it.

EFAs, excellent edible cosmetics, make skin soft, smooth, and velvety. Even octogenarians still have soft, smooth skin when they get their EFAs right. The best way to oil our skin is from within, using the right amounts of properly balanced, properly made EFA-rich products. Adults usually require about 2 tablespoons per day, but the exact amount for best results is individually determined.

People also tan better and burn less. They get relief from eczema, acne, psoriasis, and other skin conditions.

EFA-rich oils used externally turn rancid on our skin and we then smell like paint. That's why these incredible beauty treats (cosmetic edibles) are little used in cosmetics. Just so, eat EFAs to get nice skin.

Dry skin indicates a need for EFAs. In winter, we need more than in summer. When the weather 'turns' in fall, dry skin is your sign to take more EFAs.

Skin is a good indicator of EFA need. We can live with dry skin, but not with a dry liver or brain. Inner organs get priority on the EFAs brought into our body. After our inner organs have their EFAs, your skin gets oiled. I've taken as much as 15 tablespoons in one day, and then none for 12 days (traveling, I didn't want to chance breaking the amber glass bottle and spilling oil all over my underwear in my suitcase). By the skin test, I require almost one tablespoon more each winter day than I do in summer.

 

Detoxification

In studies done with Vietnam war veterans, their body burden of toxic, cancer-causing oil-soluble Agent Orange - a combination of two chlorinated hydrocarbon herbicides, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, made by Dow Chemicals and used to defoliate vegetation during the Vietnam war - was reduced by sweating in a dry sauna.

Agent Orange was measured in their sweat, and its decrease in their body could be monitored. The oils part of the sweat carries these toxins. Oil lost in sweating had to be replaced through increased oil intake to prevent dry skin.

And new research shows that EFAs, especially the omega 3, can protect the body from the toxic effects of pesticides. The work was done with Inuit (Eskimos), using omega 3 derivatives found in high fat, cold water fish.

In animals, EFAs benefit skin, hair (feathers), and nails (hooves) in all species with which we have worked: humans, dogs, cats, horses, tigers, lions, and other wild cats, elephants, wolves, hyenas, monkeys, and birds.

EFAs heal conditions like dry, flaky skin, oily skin, 'hot' spots, bald spots, and skin effects of flea and food allergies in dogs and cats rapidly. Improvements begin to show within 3 weeks, become obvious by 30 days, and become apparent in show animals already in top condition by 6 to 8 weeks. Skin benefits are fully developed by 3 months. Horses develop a 'spit and shine' polish within a month of getting their EFAs right.
 

Digestive system.

 

EFAs help prevent 'leaky gut' and food allergies.

They help to reduce cravings that lead to constant snacking, one of the reasons for overweight. They also help prevent addictions to foods, and ease the intensity of symptoms during withdrawal from problem foods.

EFAs also decrease addiction and ease withdrawal from cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs, which can seriously hurt the digestive system and the rest of the body.

EFAs reduce the inflammation that leads to leaky gut and food allergies.

EFAs improve bowel flora, satisfy hunger, and suppress appetite. A friend of mine went to a conference on an island off South America. He arrived a day late, and found all of his cohorts had diarrhea. Unwilling to accept the same fate, he told me that every time he got hungry, he took 2 tablespoons of an oil blend that I developed for the work I do - a blend with a ratio of twice as much omega 3 as omega 6. He was surprised at how well it suppressed his hunger. Using the oil blend this way, he ate nothing but oil for 2 days, and ate his next meal only when he returned to California. In this way, he managed to avoid the bowel problems that all his friends had to contend with.

Inner organs-liver, kidneys, adrenals, and pancreas-require EFAs to function properly, as do our thyroid and other glands. EFAs are required for hormone production. Again, this is just common sense. If every cell in the body requires EFAs, so do our glands and organs, because they are all made of cells.

Sperm formation and female reproduction require EFAs.

EFAs help prevent premenstrual syndrome. Other minerals and vitamins required for EFA metabolism, and helpful in both male and female reproduction, include vitamins B3, B6, C, biotin, & E, and the minerals manganese, zinc, and calcium.

Women's health research has recently made some very interesting discoveries. During development, the unborn child draws EFAs from its mother's body the EFAs it needs to develop its brain, because EFAs are absolutely necessary for brain development. In fact, studies had previously shown that a mother rat deprived of the omega 3 EFA produces offspring with permanent learning disabilities.

Studies have also shown that with each consecutive child, a women becomes more depleted of the stores of EFAs she carries in her body. Each child obtains fewer EFAs from her than the child before. Researchers suggest that the reason why younger children in large families often have behavioral and developmental problems is not because they are 'spoiled', but because they don't get all the brain fats-EFAs-they need for normal development. This may also be why oldest children tend to be the most intelligent-their brain is more optimally developed because of the best supply of EFAs during their development.

Those who carried out the studies suggest that depletion of EFAs is a prime reason why women get post-partum depression, and also why women get more depression, fibromyalgia, lupus, thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis, Lou Gehrig's, and other degenerative conditions than men do. The fact that females grow humans inside them-made from their foods, their bodies-means that women are depleted of EFAs in a way that men will never be subjected to.

Because women in North America (or anywhere else around the world) have no reliable way of getting the omega 3 EFA that is so critical to health, researchers suggest strongly that women be made aware of this need. Both for the sake of their own health, and for that of their children.

 

Cardiovascular system. 

 

Cholesterol transport requires EFAs.

Omega 3 EFAs lower high triglycerides by up to 65%, better than drugs, without side effects, except that you feel better. Remarkable-a fat that lowers blood fats.

Given in the right ratio-we use twice as much omega 3 as omega 6 in the preparation we use in our work in North America, Australia, and Europe because omega 3s are more therapeutic and less available in normal diets, and that ratio gives us the best results-EFAs produce hormone-like prostaglandins that make platelets less sticky, decreasing the likelihood of a clot forming in an artery to the heart or brain, thereby protecting us from heart attacks and strokes. The right ratio of prostaglandins, made from the right ratio of essential fats in our diet, also help to lower high blood pressure, help our kidneys remove excess water; and decrease inflammation in tissues.

Given in the wrong ratio, EFAs can have the opposite effects. That is one of the most important reasons to make sure we get the ratio right. There should be more omega 3s, but enough omega 6s to avoid omega 6 deficiency.

 

Immune System.

EFAs protect genetic material (DNA) from damage.

Our immune cells use EFAs to make oxygen 'bullets' to kill infectious foreign invaders. EFAs help treat fungus infections like athlete's foot or those that take hold under finger and toe nails.
Along with enzymes, greens, and friendly bowel bacteria, EFAs also help get rid of yeast overgrowth (candida). The omega 3 EFA, and derivatives of both omega 3 and omega 6 EFAs inhibit tumor growth.

EFAs are required for wound healing.

EFAs play a regulating role in the expression of genes on our chromosomes, especially those which make transport and other proteins with important functions in our cell membranes, and those involved in the production of enzymes needed for energy production.

EFAs are required for protein metabolism. Without EFAs, in fact, proteins can become quite toxic, impairing liver and kidney function, and leading to leaky gut, inflammation, and food allergies.

This point should be emphasized to people on low-fat diets, as well as to athletes, overweight people, and anyone else who has become protein-conscious and fat-phobic. Having heard only half of the story on fats, they are led to make food choices which can have significant negative effects on their health.

We require EFAs to transport and metabolize minerals. They help to maintain strong bones, prevent osteoporosis, and help balance the mineral-depleting action of protein.

EFAs are unreliable for lowering cholesterol. Sometimes they do.

Sometimes they don't. Elevated cholesterol is lowered consistently and reliably by fiber, the best of which is water-soluble mucilage (insoluble fiber is useless for lowering cholesterol) found in flax, psyllium, and slippery elm. The right combination of these three is especially effective (synergistic).
 

Part Four: Excess or Deficit in EFA's

CAN WE GET TOO MUCH EFA?

All that said, can one get too much of a good thing when it comes to EFAs? If you take EFAs too close to bed time, you may have too much energy to sleep (many people would like that problem), so take EFA-rich oils before 8 p.m. if you want to sleep, and after 10 p.m. if you want to party.

If you take more oils at any one time than your liver can handle, you may feel full, heavy, or nauseous. That's the liver, which must process oils and EFAs, protecting itself from overwork, from what you put in your stomach. Take less oil at any one time, and mix it in foods. That way you will never give your liver more work to do than it can cope with.

If this problem arises because of weak liver function, it may help if you lower the dose to begin with, and gradually build up your intake as your liver improves in its capacity to handle oils. Often, liver weakness results from lack of the EFAs needed in its work. This is one of the results that adherence to a low fat diet can have.

Occasionally, someone has an allergic skin response from an EFA-rich oil; take it with digestive enzymes. If that does not work, find another source of EFAs.

Reaction to oil is rare, even in allergy-prone individuals. Proteins trigger most allergy reactions, but oils are protein-free. In fact, good oils usually helpful in relieving allergies. Your body will tell you. It is your most reliable expert.

Let's put these problems that EFAs can cause, into perspective. Of far greater concern is not getting enough of the EFAs, because so many cells, tissues, glands, and organs need them - desperately - to work normally. Getting them in altered, toxic forms due to careless processing procedures puts these altered molecules in harm's way in our body... or getting the ratio between them wrong - a problem for almost every affluent person who has not embraced the vital necessity of the Right Fat Diet™.

 

EFA DEFICIENCY

Every cell, tissue, gland, and organ will fail to function if sufficient levels of omega-6 EFA's are not present in the diet. In the past, such deficiency was rare, but since the advent of low-fat diets, lack of omega-6's has become much more common.
 

 

Omega 6 deficiency causes the following symptoms:

1. Skin, hair, and nails become defective, leading to ...
   eczema-like skin eruptions
   dry skin and hair; hair loss
   water loss through the skin (dehydration) with attendant thirst
   impaired nail growth
   
2. Organs fall apart, resulting in ...
   fatty infiltration of the liver; kidney malfunction; dry eyes
   
3. The brain falls apart, bringing about many changes, including ...
   poor vision; decreased learning ability; lower intelligence
   mood changes; depression; poor handling of stressful situations
   problem behavior; attention deficit; hyperactivity; dyslexia
   motor incoordination; and poor physical performance
   
4. Glands dry up, failing to make their vital hormones and secretions
   
5. The immune system falls apart, producing ...
   increased susceptibility to infections; impaired healing of wounds
   
6. The reproductive system falls apart, and we get ...
   male sterility; and female miscarriage
   
7. Our joints fall apart, manifesting as ...
   arthritis-like conditions
   
8. The cardiovascular system falls apart, resulting in ...
   heart beat abnormalities that can lead to cardiac arrest
   sometimes, increased cholesterol
   
9. Digestion falls apart, leading to ...
   poor digestion of foods; inflammation; leaky gut; food sensitivities, allergies
   
10. Growth becomes retarded.

The above list shows some of the serious health concerns from lack of essential omega 6 fats. They are an absolute necessity for life.

Adequate Omega 6 intake reverses all of these deficiency symptoms.

Omega 3 deficiency causes the following symptoms:

• growth retardation;
• vision and learning problems; behavioral changes; mental deterioration;
• weakness; motor incoordination;
• tingling sensations in arms and legs.
  Researchers agree on these omega 3 deficiency symptoms; but omega 3s often reverse the following conditions, which should therefore be added to the list above:
• high triglycerides; high blood pressure; sticky platelets;
• sub-optimal skin condition; inflammatory skin diseases;
• water retention (edema); inflammation in any tissue in the body;
• auto-immune conditions;
• low metabolic rate; weight gain.

Summary:

EFA deficiency affects cells and tissues throughout the entire body. No part of the body can function without them. EFA supplementation reverses all symptoms of EFA deficiency.

 

 

Part Five: Minor Ingredients In Oils

 

Besides EFAs, oil-soluble 'minor' ingredients present in seeds and fresh, unrefined oils deserve attention.

They are MINOR in the amounts present in oils (about 2%), but MAJOR in their benefits to health - SMALL in the ingredient list, but BIG in their results.

Their power should not be underestimated.

Unrefined (natural food trade) oils packaged in brown glass contain these minor ingredients.

Refined (supermarket, colorless, odorless, tasteless) oils have lost most of the minor ingredients by degumming, refining, and bleaching.

'Minor' ingredients, found in unrefined seed and nut oils, can:

• lower cholesterol, and block cholesterol absorption from foods
• improve cardiovascular function
• have powerful anti-cancer properties
• improve digestion, and stimulate pancreatic enzyme production
• improve liver and gall bladder function, and increase bile flow
• act as anti-oxidants & stabilize EFAs against oxidation (rancidity)
• act as anti-inflammatory agents
• protect visual function, and improve brain (CNS) function

Hundreds of different 'minor' ingredients (phytochemicals) are found in different oils. For instance, the benefits of traditional extra virgin (green) olive oil on health are based on its 'minor' ingredients, which improve liver and gall bladder function, digestion, and cardiovascular function.

Extra virgin olive oil is a poor source of EFAs-no omega 3s and only about 10% omega 6s. 88% of what extra virgin olive oil contains-saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids-are unnecessary because the body can make them from sugar and starch. If these were health-making, eating white sugar or white flour should be able to keep us healthy.

The other major benefit of using extra virgin olive oil is that it has not been destructively processed, and therefore does not contain the kinds of toxic molecules one finds in colorless, odorless, tasteless oils found so abundantly today.

 Part Six: EFA's - Recommended Intakes

Most traditional diets that kept people free of degenerative conditions contain about 15 to 30% of their calories as fats. The Inuit (Eskimo) diet contained up to 60% fats, much of it from raw whale blubber. Inuit were free of blood clot-induced heart attacks and strokes. They were free of cancer, multiple sclerosis, and diabetes. Whale blubber fats are rich in EFA derivatives from omega 3, and contain some omega 6 derivatives as well. These traditional Inuit fats were completely unprocessed.

QUANTITIES

The fact that quantities of fat in traditional diets that kept people healthy varies quite widely is instructive for us. In my work, I've seen people use as much as 50% of their calories from the oils made with health in mind, and blended to get the right ratio. They tell us that they feel great-more energy, less joint pain, nicer skin, better thinking ability, greater calmness, and less weight are just some of the benefits these consumers of fat report.

Fats in other traditional diets also contained both EFAs. They were unrefined, and still had the 'minor' ingredients from seeds and nuts. Technology for removing health supporting 'minor' ingredients became widespread only in this century.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL RATIO?

Some researchers have suggested that the perfect ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 is 1:4. They base these figures on enzyme studies carried out in tissue cultures. Our more practical experience working with people, shows that the ratio that gives the best results consistently comes form oils blended to be richer in omega 3 than omega 6. This may be because human beings are more complex than tissue cultures. They use EFAs for brain function, hormone production, and many other functions that don't pertain in tissue culture.

Some people suggest that the traditional perfect balance was 1: 1. But ratios in traditional ratios varied widely. The Inuit ratio was 2.5:1. It did not produce omega 6 deficiency. The ratio in Mediterranean diets was about 1:6, and did not produce omega 3 deficiency. The brain of both traditions contains a balance of 1:1. Which tells us that the brain takes what it needs from what the body gets, provided that enough of both EFAs is present.

In practice, oils richer in omega 3's (but not too rich) consistently produce the best health support and improvement.

Flax oil (3.5 times richer in omega 3 than omega 6) can lead to omega 6 deficiency, because omega 3s and 6s compete for enzyme space in our cells. On unrefined flax oil made with health in mind (the first oil I developed in North America) I experienced dry eyes, skipped heart beats, joint pains, and fragile, thin skin. Others have suffered similar problems. The Inuit's 2.5:1 balance is the omega 3-richest traditional diet-nature's measure of the upper limit of safe omega 3 richness.

We have developed an Oil Blend for our work with people and animals, based on this information. It is twice richer in omega 3, but contains enough omega 6 to prevent deficiency.
 
Omega 3's have great therapeutic value in Western countries where they are lacking in common foods. The Oil Blend is packaged in brown glass bottles, in a box, and may be stored refrigerated or frozen.

The blend we use contains 9 ingredients.

Flax supplies omega 3's. Sunflower and sesame provide omega 6s, Oils of rice germ, unrefined evening primrose, and oat germ provide 'minor' ingredients shown by research or clinical practice to have healing benefits. The six oils listed above won out over corn, pumpkin, and safflower. All oils in the blend are unrefined, quite a production feat, considering that some of them are not commercially available in unrefined form.

In addition to the six oils, the blend contains medium chain triglycerides, the good parts of coconut oil: easy on our liver, lower cholesterol, improve EFA absorption, inhibit tumor growth, and provide pleasant taste. It also contains lecithin, which has a long history of traditional use, and vitamin E, the oil-soluble free radical scavenger.

For different situations, we can modify the basic formula. We're more interested in the practical applications of oils to health improvement, than the academic issues. The blend provides a convenient way to get everything we need from oils without getting any anything we should avoid. What we need is not high fat; low fat, no fat, or fake fat. We need the right fat in our foods.

The blend is more stable than flax; and does a better job on skin. The latter improves skin at first, but skin problems return due to omega 6 deficiency.

Our reports on energy, stamina, performance, and recovery; skin improvement; and weight management come almost exclusively from feedback given to us by people using the blend.

The feedback from users covers the gamut of situations that reflect the many functions of EFAs in the body, in line with what you would expect from getting optimum amounts of EFAs made with health in mind and in the right ratio. They confirm what research published in the scientific literature claims. To refresh your memory of the wide range of possible benefits you can expect from getting on the Right Fat Diet, you might want to review that list again.

Note: In some European countries, the tablespoon (Tbsp) is different from that used in North America. One Tbsp, as used in this article, is 15 milliliters, weighing 14 grams. In winter, we recommend about one tablespoon of the oil blend per 50 pounds of body weight, or however much oil is required to make skin soft, smooth, and velvety. In summer we need less, and again skin is our indicator of optimum. Dry skin is a clear indicator that more of the oil is required.

Guidelines for Usage

Please consult your health-care practitioner before modifiying your diet.

Below, from feedback, are general guidelines of how much oil might be used to get results:

• skin; tanning & burning; eczema, psoriasis, and acne; 2-10 Tbsp/d;
  
• energy in the older population; 2-5 Tbsp/d;
  
• stamina, performance in strength and endurance sports; gains in body builders; recovery from fatigue after exercise; healing of sprains, strains, and bruises; 3-8 Tbsp/d;
  
• mood; depression; attention deficit, hyperactivity, stress; learning & intelligence; mental processing, color perception, visual acuity; communication; 2-5 Tbsp/d;
  
• healing; joint pain; stiffness; inflammation; arthritis: 2-10 Tbsp/d;
  
• dampening auto-immune response; up to 10 Tbsp/d;
  
• infections; 3-5 Tbsp/d; sometimes higher amounts short term;
  
• proneness to clots in arteries; high triglycerides; high blood pressure; 2-5 Tbsp/d;
  
• weight management; usually 3-5 Tbsp/d; sometimes up to 10 Tbsp/d;
  
• water retention; premenstrual symptoms; 3-5 Tbsp/d; sometimes up to 10 Tbsp/d;
  
• craving for cigarettes, drugs, alcohol, junk foods, & sugar; suppressing appetite; 2-5 Tbsp/d;
  
• tumor growth; energy in cancer patients; chronic fatigue; 3-10 Tbsp/d;
  
• insulin requirement in diabetics; glucose tolerance and stability; 3-5 Tbsp/d.

Users have reported benefits in all major degenerative conditions . . . which is the practical confirmation of knowledge gained from researching the effects of EFA's on the Human Body.

We recommend using EFAs, not because they reverse degenerative conditions or alleviate symptoms, but because EFAs are required for the normal functioning of all cells and tissues in the body.

We use them to normalize and optimize body function. When people use them this way, they notice improvements in many different situations.

Part Seven: Pets & Other Animals; Summary

Every cell in every organism has an innate (genetic) program for building health.

 

This program can do its work properly only if given the tools - optimum quantities of essential nutrients - required to do its job. These tools are the essential nutrients. Without them, even the best genes cannot build healthy cells.

In animals, we have seen improvements similar to those described above for humans. But there are some differences. One of the most important is that animals need less oil than humans. While humans need 15 to 20% of calories as EFA-rich oils, dogs and cats need less than 10%, and horses' diet (grass) contains less than 5% of calories from EFA-rich oils.

Some guidelines for how much EFA-rich oil animals should get are given below:

• Dogs get 0.5 to 3 tsp. ( 2-14 g; 1/12-1/2 ounce ) of oil each day
• Cats get a few drops to 1/2 tsp. ( up to 2 g; 1/12 ounce )
• Horses get 2-12 Tbsp ( 28-168 g; 1-6 ounces ) per day

For animals, we also developed a set of organic-based, human-edible quality product containing whole foods, food concentrates, and extracts for addition to the normal foods given to dogs, cats, and horses. This product supplies fiber, protein, and EFAs, with additional minerals, vitamins, enzymes, friendly bacteria, anti-oxidants, and phytonutrients-all that was present in nature, but is supplied inadequately in commercial animal foods because of the way these foods must be processed (see our Pet Essentials™ Page; for horses, see Cathy McGlory's HorsePower Herbs website).

This amount of Pet Essential™ Product can be added to the regular food of animals:

• 1 tsp to 3 Tbsp for dogs
• 1/2 to 2 tsp for a cat
• 1/3 to 2 cups for a horse  

 

Owners report improvements in many degenerative conditions. Just by improving (optimizing) the animals' nutrient intake, using nutrient-rich whole foods.

 

Our work with animals comes, not from studying their diseases, but from knowing health.

Studying zoology, biochemistry, genetics, and nutrition, I learned how normal (healthy) rather than abnormal (sick) cells work. I paid much less attention to sickness than to health.

The wisdom of this approach is borne out by its results. Enriching diets with essential nutrients from nature enables cells to fix their defects or recycle damaged ones, and return to normal functions.

This health approach is powerful.

If we know the components of health (essential nutrients), and design a program containing these components of health in optimum quantities, the animals cure themselves.

We need no definition of disease for this.

The work with animals is important because they do not respond to placebo effects. With them, what you see is what you get. Results with EFAs and nutrient-rich foods in animals cannot be written off as artifacts of a healer's personality.

SUMMARY

Understanding fats and oils begins with the understanding that there are two stories: There are fats that kill, and fats that heal.

We should avoid the first, and make sure we get the second. We should not use low fat diets, but should aim for the "Right Fat Diet(tm)", which contains the EFAs we need for our cells to function.

EFA-rich oils have to be treated with care, because they are easily destroyed by light, oxygen (air), and high temperature. Processing-hydrogenation, frying, and deodorization damages good oils and makes them toxic to health.

For optimum health, EFAs should be accompanied by other essential nutrients-greens, fiber, enzymes, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, anti-oxidants and phytonutrients. If these are not present, EFAs won't work as well, and can even do damage.

If you want the whole story on fats, pick up a copy of FATS THAT HEAL FATS THAT KILL.

With the limited time I've had here, I have only been able to whet your appetite. The book also explores the nature of health, the biological basis of natural therapies, natural treatments for degenerative diseases, and more. Find it in book stores and health food stores. If you can't find it, call 1-800-446-2110.

Good luck with your quest for health!

http://udoerasmus.com/articles/udo/fthftk.htm.