| PUBLICATION: |
TESTOSTERONE MAGAZINE |
| DATE: |
MAR 15 / 2000 |
| AUTHOR: |
INTERVIEW: Nelson Montana |
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TESTOSTERONE
MAGAZINE > March 31st, 2000
Man
on a Mission. An interview with Udo Erasmus,
the Father of Fats.
By Nelson Montana, Issue No. 98
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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 this-they 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."
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| 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." |
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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. |
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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.
UE: Some people can handle more than others.
And, of course, adequate EFAs are essential to
liver health. They help the liver do its job.
T: Which is something that bodybuilders, especially
those using anabolic enhancement, should be conscious about.
UE: It's often overlooked, but health is
important to bodybuilders. Sometimes, they think
just in terms of more muscle mass and forget that
healthy liver function, in particular, will optimize
the output of the other glands and organs-which
equates to more energy, more strength and, consequently,
more muscle.
T: I understand that you believe gland meat
to be superior to muscle meat.
UE: Yes. Liver stores all of the body's
nutrients. But you have to be careful not to eat
old liver.
T: Because liver is also the filter of the
body's toxins?
UE: Right! If the liver isn't functioning
properly, it will collect those toxins.
T: Would you then recommend desiccated liver?
UE: Desiccated liver is simply liver with
the water taken out. If you want the benefits of
liver, they can help, as long as it's from an organic
source. This is an issue to which athletes need
to pay more attention. You need to go organic.
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| "I
have a crude saying concerning the environmental issue:
you can only shit in your nest for so long before you're
nesting in your shit. If we continue to pollute the
environment, we pollute ourselves because the environment
is our food. If a bodybuilder refuses to pay attention
to his health by eating non-organic toxic food, that
will ultimately interfere with his ability to get bigger.
Health is required for optimum muscle growth." |
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T: How
is your concept different from the various high-fat diets
that have recently gained popularity?
UE: Most of them will aid in fat loss, but
I have concerns because the quality of the fats
isn't taken into consideration. Also, staying in
ketosis can be hard on the liver and kidneys.
T: So it just can't be all bacon and rack
of lamb...
UE: The most important action to take regarding
fats and strength, as well as fats and health,
is to bring in and optimize the good fats. Having
done that, rack of lamb is okay, but fried bacon
is better avoided. The fact that bacon has nitrates
and fries in its own fat makes it a very bad choice.
I'll give credit to Atkins for proving that a high-fat
diet will help weight loss, but it's his only claim.
He never mentions cardiovascular disease or gland
function. My method is healthier and more beneficial
to bodybuilders.
I also believe that bodybuilders should be using digestive enzymes
that are rich in protease. That can take a load off of your digestion
which, in turn, will free the immune system from having to get involved
in digesting foods. It also insures the proper assimilation of proteins.
When proteins aren't digested, it causes a host of problems like bloating,
leaky gut, and gout.
T: Are you an advocate of low-carb diets?
UE: Not for bodybuilders! I don't buy into the 40-30-30
thing because it varies from person to person. A bodybuilder
needs carbs for energy and is more likely to burn carbs than
a sedentary person. Carbs should be ingested slowly so that you
don't get a big insulin spike. The key is to get it in at the
rate that it burns. |
T: Chitosan has become a popular supplement. What's
your take on using it for those occasional "bad fat" meals?
UE: Chitosan doesn't work much differently
than psyllium. Too much of either will remove
the good fat along with the bad. Psyllium absorbs
40% of its weight in water, which helps in elimination.
But if you take it without enough food, you can
cause yourself a lot of gut problems.
The notion of eating bad fats and making sure that they don't get absorbed
isn't the smartest way to go. What we really need to do is to get enough
of the good fats. If you take chitosan, you have to make sure that
you supplement with extra EFA and additional vitamin E. If you eat
enough vegetables, which have all of the nutrients that you need, you'll
get plenty of fiber without having to take "crab shells" [of which
chitosan is made].
Fiber is important. It removes cholesterol, toxins, and heavy metals
from the body. It also stabilizes blood glucose, both high and low.
We make a gentle fiber product called Beyond Greens which has fiber
from flax, slippery elm, acidophilus, dulse, kelp, and just a little
from psyllium. It attaches to the sugar in your digestive tract and
slows down its absorption. This is very beneficial to bodybuilders
because it hinders the glycemic action of certain sugars and prevents
the glucose from being stored as bodyfat. Fat also slows down the glycemic
index, but fiber actually does a better job of it.
If anyone wants more information on any of these products, call 800-446-2110
or visit the Fats That Heal website. They're also available in most
health food stores. You have to search, though-the different products
are sometimes scattered instead of being together in one place.
These are life-altering products. I'd suggest trying them and, if you
like, buy them by the case and freeze the remainder. It's cheaper that
way, and you won't have to worry about the freshness expiring if it's
frozen.
T: Is the blend available in a capsule? Some people may
have a problem drinking the oil straight.
UE: The blend is available in capsules,
but you'll need 14 pills to reach the recommended
dosage. It isn't cost-effective, but it's good
for traveling on planes and such where you wouldn't
want to spill it on your suit. But drinking a spoonful
or two is fine for most people. The oil doesn't
taste terrible-it's not as nasty as cod-liver oil.
T: Nothing is as nasty as cod-liver oil.
UE: People actually like the taste of Udo's
Choice. It's not ice cream, but it isn't horrible.
I suck the oil right out of the bottle! I'd suggest
getting used to it. It's your life.
T: Last question, what's the lesser of two
evils: butter or oil?
UE: Butter. However, you're still going
to get toxicity, so my advice-don't do it!
T: Thanks, Udo. I'll keep it in mind.
UE: Thank you. And stay healthy. |
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Nelson
Montana's Epilogue...
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Going
into this story, I thought that I had a pretty good
grasp on the benefits of fats and oils. Coming out
of it, I realize that my supplementation of essential
fatty acids from the "right" oils has been drastically
deficient. Time to up those omega-3s!
Admittedly, some of Udo's recommendations may be difficult to "swallow." Boiled
meat? Steamed fish? I don't know about you, but a life without
charred meat isn't worth living, as far as I'm concerned.
Nevertheless, Udo gave me a lot to think about. From here on, flaxseed
oil won't just be a "now and then" supplement. It should be a part
of the bodybuilder's daily intake, every bit as important as protein
and vitamins.
And maybe I'll pass on the Wendy's Double Classic cheeseburger
today. Grilled chicken with extra-virgin olive oil? That doesn't
sound so bad.
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Remember
to visit our ARTICLES section
for the latest
research articles, scientific studies, athlete statements
and publications by Udo
Erasmus.
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