(copied and pasted)
PART 1
Man on a Mission. An interview with Udo Erasmus, the Father of Fats.
By Nelson Montana, March 31, 2000. Issue No. 98.
If dietary fat had a different name than bodyfat, maybe fewer people would be fat "phobic." To the general public, the very word "fat" carries a negative connotation. It's associated with heart disease, cancer, hardening of the arteries, and ugly body flab. Yet, despite the similarity in sound, the two are as different as violins and violence.
Most bodybuilders are aware of thisÑthey know that fats are essential. Fats provide energy. They help the body to burn stored fat. They're also necessary for hormone production (including our favorite, testosterone). But there's more to the slippery stuff than you may realize. That's what Udo Erasmus is out to prove.
Udo is one of the original pioneers in the study of fats. Long before the Atkins diet, the Anabolic diet, and their subsequent descendants, the Zone and the ketogenic diets, Udo was advocating the proper use of fats for optimum health, immunity, and athletic performance.
Udo's academic credentials include a BS in zoology, an MA in psychology, a PhD in nutrition, and graduate studies in genetics and biochemistry. A major turning point in his career occurred back in 1980 when he was accidentally poisoned by pesticides. When traditional medicine was unable to provide help, Udo concluded that his health was his responsibility and sought the answers that he needed by fervently delving into the research literature. He also paid special attention to a misunderstood area:
The effects of fats and oils on human health.
This meant tracking down thousands of original research studies, many of which were inaccessible to the public. Udo's investigation culminated in the writing of his groundbreaking book, "Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill."
Since the release of this landmark bestseller, Udo has set about preaching the gospel of good fat. If you'd like to have a better understanding of how fats can help you with your bodybuilding goals, you'll be interested to hear from the man reverently known as "His Royal Oiliness."
T: Hi, Udo. I understand that you're currently touring the country doing seminars. Can you tell us a little about that?
UE: That's what I do. I travel around the country speaking on this issue because I believe that Americans need an "oil change." The fats that Americans are using play a major role in the cause of most of the degenerative conditions in a way that traditional medicine doesn't address.
Cardiovascular disease, type-II diabetes, arthritis, and cancer are all preventable with what I call "fats that heal."
T: Are all bad fats saturated fats?
UE: Not necessarily. It's also the fats that've been processed by destructive methods. This includes margarines and shortenings, which contain trans-fatty acids.
T: So hydrogenated fats [those that solidify at room temperature] are bigger culprits than saturated fat. This includes peanut butter, which is essentially peanuts and Crisco, isn't it?
UE: Exactly. And trans-fatty acids are what raise LDL, the "bad" cholesterol. But some of the oils which are considered to be "good," like olive and canola oils, have also been processed by destructive methods. Actually, all supermarket oils, except for extra-virgin olive oil, fit into this category.
Virgin olive oil isn't a great source of omega-3s, but it has many of the cofactors that are required for optimum health. Supermarket oils are treated with Drano window-washing acid bleach in order to give them a long shelf life. They're treated with a corrosive base, corrosive acid, then bleached to clean up the rancidity. Also, any time you fry with fats, you're changing the chemistry and turning them toxic.
T: Which of the essential oils are most beneficial to bodybuilders?
UE: Flax oil, which contains the omega-3s, should be considered a "must have" supplement for bodybuilders. If bodybuilders want to lose subcutaneous fat, then I'd highly recommend additional flax oil. The muscles will look shredded! Some of the bodybuilders that I've worked with have taken up to 14 tablespoons of the blend with amazing results. Flax oil alone may not be enough, though.
In my Udo's Choice formula, I mix unrefined organic sunflower, sesame, primrose, oat, rice, and wheat germ oils in order to get the proper ratio of omega-3 and omega-6. If you just take flax, you may become omega-6 deficient, but most people get enough omega-6 in a standard diet. Unfortunately, it's from poor sources. Symptoms of omega-6 deficiency are dry eyes and skin, joint pain, and skipped heartbeats.
The ratio should be 2:1 in favor of omega-3. The blend will help regardless of your present diet. As long as you get enough of the good fats, you can get away with a little of the bad fats. But keep in mind that essential fats and saturated fats compete. You have to make sure that the essential fats always win the competition.
T: Do you recommend never cooking with oil? No fried eggs, no tomato sauce, not even broiled chicken?
UE: No frying! Frying foods increases cancer and the chance for heart disease. Once you heat oil, you're changing the chemistry, big-time. Smoke, as we know, causes cancer and other problems.
T: So browning of meats is also out?
UE: Yes. We tell everyone to steam his or her food. That's what everyone around the world used to do. Steam, boil or pressure cook your foods, then add the oil blend. You can add oil to your shakes, pour it in fruit juice...
T: Oil in fruit juice?
UE: Yeah! It sounds strange, but it's very good.
T: Bodybuilders understand that fats are necessary for the production of testosterone. But do all fats increase hormone production, or is it specific fats?
UE: The EFAs give the glands more energy to do their work which, in part, is hormone production. Omega-3 deficiency causes weakness due to lowered testosterone levels. We worked with one bodybuilder on a high-protein, low-fat diet who took just three tablespoons of the blend. Within two days, he increased his poundages and amount of repetitions. He was also recuperating quicker, and his buddies were asking him what he was on!
T: How do prostaglandins fit into the picture? How do fats affect them?
UE: Prostaglandins are the hormones that are made from
essential fatty acids. There are different kinds of prostaglandins, each with a specific function. They're necessary for everything from protecting the arterial wall to maintaining an erection!
T: Waiter, more oil here! I don't have to worry about getting too much, do I?
UE: It isn't likely, unless you take in so much that your liver can't handle it. The liver has to process fats, so you wouldn't want to bog it down with too much at one time.
T: I imagine that's where one's instincts come into play. You "feel" weighed down by all of the fat.
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