Guest guest Posted June 3, 2003 Report Share Posted June 3, 2003 In response to a request for information from a friend, I did some real work to find the reasons why we need GOOD fats in our diets...and what I found on one website blew me away. This is REALLY IMPORTANT to know! Skip the stuff that isn't of interest, but I think this is the BEST website I've ever seen to bring home the fact that we need these things! I didn't put ALL of it on - just some of the highlights. Linda FAQ INDEX Udo's research and product development covers a huge spectrum of human health issues. This FAQ section is divided into several main areas for your ease-of-use. Check in with our abbreviations section on the right below for a quick introduction to some of the terms used in the FAQs. The information provided is meant for educational purposes only, and is not intended, nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CLICK HERE to open our ABBREVIATIONS & TERMINOLOGY page in a new window. 1. Understanding Fats Where do we start? What are the good (essential) fats? What are bad (toxic) fats? What are the functions of essential fatty acids? What happens when we don’t get enough good fats? How does the body distribute essential fatty acids? Can you get too much essential fat?2. Udo's Choice™ Oil Blend Why is Udo's Choice Oil Blend so effective for health? What is the maximum advisable dose of your oil blend? How much of your oil blend should we give to children? What does your oil blend taste like? How should the oil blend be used? Why is there no EPA and DHA in your oil blend? Are other GLA, EPA and DHA containing oils compatible with your blend?3. Oil Processing How did we lose the good fats and other vital nutrients? How do typical oil processing methods alter fats and endanger health? Hydrogenation Frying Cooking Oils Saturated (hard) fats Abbreviations GLA - gamma-linoleic acidDHA - docosahexaenoic acidEPA - eicosapentaenoic acidEPO - evening primrose oilBO - borage oilLA - linoleic acidLNA - linolenic acid Omega 3 = alpha-linolenic acid = LNA = ALA = w3 = w-3 = n3 = n-3 Omega 6 = linoleic acid = LA = w6 = w-6 = n6 = n-6 Terminology healing fat = good fat = good oil = right fat = right oil = essential fat = healing oil = essential fatty acid. We use these terms interchangeably, but they all mean the same thing. These are substances found in fats, which the body can’t make, but needs for health, and must therefore obtain from foods. 4. Good Fats Where do we find good fats? How do we use good fats in foods? How much good fat should we use? 5. Miscellaneous What is the 'skinny' on carbohydrates? Can you take too much lecithin? Should one take anti-oxidants with essential fatty acids? How do you determine the 'twisted fat' content in products? Does a woman's need for EFA's increase during pregnancy? 6. Specific Questions There seem to a lot of different fats out there - monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, saturated, trans-fats, etc. What are the differences between them and which should I be eating or avoiding? 1. Understanding Fats Where do we start? To understand how fats affect health, we must begin by realizing that there are two opposite stories about fats. There are fats that kill, which we should avoid. And there are fats that heal that we must obtain from our food. Much has been said about the fats that kill. They are associated with deaths from cardiovascular disease (43%), cancer (23%), diabetes (2%), and other degenerative diseases that kill 68% of Western populations. Only a 100 years ago, this was rare indicating that these deaths are from diseases of lifestyle, not genetics. The problem with our focus on the killer fats is that it is an inadequate focus. If we were to remove all bad fats from our diet, and do it perfectly (100%) we would still die if we did not bring in and optimize the fats that heal. This is because we cannot live without the fats that heal, and removing the bad fats makes no guarantee of obtaining the good ones. The story of the fats that heal, the good fats, the essential fatty acids is therefore the more interesting and important story by far. To bring the neglected good fats into our diet, we must identify their sources, their functions, and the signs of their deficiency. (BACK TO TOP) What are the good (essential) fats? Certain fats are defined as 'essential' because: The body cannot make them; They are required for normal cell, tissue, gland, and organ function, for health, and for life; They must be provided from outside the body, through food or supplements; They can come only from fats (hence fat-free diets cannot supply them); Their absence from the diet will eventually kill; Deficiency results in progressive deterioration, can lead to death; Return of essential fatty acids to a deficient diet reverses the symptoms of deficiency and results in a return to health. According to the above definition of essential, there are only two essential fats (technically called essential fatty acids or EFAs). One is the omega 3 (n-3) EFA, called alpha-linolenic acid. The other, the omega 6 (n-6) EFA, is known as linoleic acid. The body converts the n-3 and n-6 EFAs into several n-3 and n-6 derivatives with important functions in the body. The best known derivatives of n-3 are EPA and DHA, which are made by the body and are also found in high fat, cold water fish. DHA is the major brain n-3. Derivatives of n-6 include GLA (found in evening primrose oil), DGLA (found in mother's milk), and AA (found in meat, eggs, and dairy products, as well as in fish). AA is the major brain n-6. From the n-3 derivative called EPA, the body makes hormone-like series 3 eicosanoids, and from two n-6 derivatives called DGLA and AA, the body makes hormone-like series 1 and series 2 eicosanoids, respectively. Eicosanoids regulate many functions in all tissues on a moment-to-moment basis, from conception until death. A more comprehensive look at EFAs, derivatives, and eicosanoids is found on page 20 of Fats That Heal Fats That Kill. (BACK TO TOP) What are bad (toxic) fats? Most of the health problems usually blamed on fats should be blamed on the destructive processing of fats, normally used to obtain longer shelf life and greater convenience for manufacturers and consumers. EFAs are sensitive to destruction by light, air (oxygen), and heat. These three destructive influences produce molecules that have been changed from natural and healthy to unnatural and toxic. Light produces thousands of free radicals in oils, and leads to random changes in oil molecules. Exposure of oil to air or oxygen produces oxidation and rancidity with its unpleasant odor. Heat speeds the damage done by light and oxygen, and at high temperatures, does it own unique kinds of damage. Because of their sensitivity, EFAs need to be pressed, filtered, packaged, stored and used with care. They need protection from light, air, and heat. If this protection is not given, EFAs and the oils containing them cannot retain the health benefits that they confer when treated with care. EFA-rich oils should be made with health in mind, rather than for long shelf life. When this care is not taken, oils and EFAs are damaged, and then they damage our health. (BACK TO TOP) What are the functions of essential fatty acids? Essential fatty acids have many functions throughout the body. They are involved in: Energy production. In a study with athletes in Denmark, we showed that within one month of giving athletes one tablespoon per 50 pounds of body weight per day of an oil blend with an n-3: n-6 ratio of 2:1, stamina increased by up to 40 or even 60%. Athletes could exercise longer before reaching exhaustion, recovered more quickly from fatigue, could exercise more often without over-training, healed quicker from injuries, built muscle faster, and had less joint pain. Energy improvement is also seen in non-athletes and older people. The EFA blend also improves mental stamina. Brain Function. In our work with the blended oil, we have seen consistent improvements in brain function, and research with EFAs from other sources has also shown brain benefits. Among these are elevated mood, lifted depression, increased calmness, better handling of stress, less hyperactivity, better focus, better mental processing, faster learning, increased intelligence, better concentration, and improved motor coordination. Among the mentally ill, EFAs can decrease hallucinations in schizophrenics, elevate mood, lift depression, improve symptoms in bipolar and obsessive-compulsive disorder, and improve brain function in Alzheimer's disease and autism. EFAs are also required for vision. Skin, Hair, and Nails. EFAs are required for healthy skin and hair, and are required for normal nail growth. They moisturize skin and prevent dryness. Cancer. N-3 EFAs lower cancer risk. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). N-3 can decrease most CVD risk factors, including high triglycerides (blood fats), blood pressure, platelet stickiness, fibrinogen, and lipoprotein(a). N-3 also keep the inside of our arteries smooth. N-3 and n-6 keep the heart beat regular. Diabetes. EFAs are required for insulin function. N-3 make diabetics more insulin-sensitive. Weight Management. N-6 slightly and n-3 more effectively help reduce fat production in the body. They also increase fat burning and heat production in the body, and shift the body from burning glucose to burning fats. Saturated, monounsaturated, and trans- fatty acids do not help to manage weight. Sugar triggers increased fat production in the body. Starch can also lead to overweight. Digestion. EFAs improve gut integrity, decrease gut inflammation, and decrease 'leaky gut' that can lead to allergies. Allergies. EFAs reduce symptoms of allergies. They work best if digestive enzymes rich in protein-digesting protease are also used. Inflammation. N-3 reduce inflammation. Digestive enzymes are also helpful. Autoimmune Conditions. N-3 dampen the over-response of the immune system in autoimmune conditions. Again, enzymes are also helpful. Injury. EFAs speed the healing of injuries. Bone Minerals. N-3 improve bone mineral retention, thereby inhibiting the development of osteoporosis. Stress. EFAs, by optimizing serotonin production, improve response to stress. People report feeling calmer, getting stressed less easily, dealing with stressful situations more calmly, and losing their temper less often. Sleep. EFAs improve sleep in some people. Hormones. EFAs improve hormone functions. Hormone levels may decrease, yet the effects of hormones remain normal. EFAs thereby ease the work load of glands. Organs. EFAs are required for liver and kidney function. Reproduction. EFAs are required for sperm formation, the female cycle, and pregnancy. (BACK TO TOP) What happens when we don’t get enough good fats? The short answer is: Every part of the body gradually deteriorates and falls apart. No cell, tissue, gland, or organ can function normally without them. Here is a longer list: Dry skin Constipation Low energy levels Brittle hair and hair loss Poor nail growth Deterioration of liver and kidneys Behavioral changed due to brain deterioration Glands dry up Immune system deteriorates, resulting in more infections, poorer wound healing, and increased cancer Digestion problems, inflammation, bloating, allergies, autoimmune conditions Bone mineral loss Reproductive failure: sterility in males and miscarriage in females Retarded growth of children Tingling in arms and legs due to nerve deterioration Vision and learning problems Insulin resistance Increased risk of overweight Increased cancer risk Increased cardiovascular risk Decreased ability to cope with stress In mental illness, increased symptoms Decreased lung function Decreased tissue oxidation SERIOUS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH?www.AyurvedicHerbsForHealth.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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