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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
|
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. |
|
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.
|
| "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." |
 |
|
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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