Ventura Center

Your Cooking Oils - Healthy vs Unhealthy (the truth may surprise you!)

Some of these oils are healthy and some are VERY unhealthy -- soybean oil, olive oil, coconut oil, corn oil, etc... Let's take a closer look. by Mike Geary, Certified Nutrition Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer Author of best-selling program: The Truth about Six-Pack Abs

Today, I wanted to give you my take on a confusing subject to most people: ...why some oils and fats you may use in cooking, baking, or other food use are actually harmful to your body, and why some are healthful.

Here's the deal... A lot of people seem to think that anything labeled as "vegetable oil" is good for you. NOT A SHOT!

Most of what is labeled as "vegetable oil" is simply heavily refined soybean oil (processed under high heat, pressure, and industrial solvents, such as hexane)... sometimes perhaps it may also be heavily refined cottonseed, safflower, corn, grapeseed, or other oils too.

In most instances, almost all of these processed oils are NOT HEALTHY for you. I'll explain why below...

If you buy processed food or deep fried food, you can usually be certain that these unhealthy oils are used to prepare your foods (or worse, it may use hydrogenated versions of these oils... aka - trans fats).

You may have even bought some of these oils for your own cooking or baking at home.

The problem with soybean oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, grapeseed oil, safflower oil, and other similar oils is that they are mostly composed of polyunsaturated fats (the most highly reactive type of fat) which leaves them prone to oxidation and free radical production when exposed to heat and light.

Processed polyunsaturated oils are the most inflammatory inside our bodies because of their high reactivity to heat and light. This inflammation is what causes many of our internal problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and other degenerative diseases.

Note: It's ok if a polyunsaturated fat source isn't processed such as in whole foods like various nuts and seeds... In that case it's usually not inflammatory (as long as it's not been exposed to high heat), and is a great source of healthy polyunsaturated fats for you. By the way, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are both polyunsaturates, and a healthy balance of approx 1:1 to 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is considered healthiest. Your best bet is to choose raw nuts and seeds whenever possible to avoid the oxidation of polyunsaturated fats that can occur during roasting of nuts and seeds. Keep in mind though that some nuts are mostly monounsaturated, (for example, macadamias), so the issue of roasted vs raw nuts is less of an issue for highly monounsaturated nuts.

However, all of the vegetable oils listed above are generally heavily refined during processing, so that makes them already inflammatory before you even cook with them (which does even more damage).

Here's the actual order of stability of a type of fat under heat and light (from least stable to most stable):

1. polyunsaturated

2. monounsaturated

3. saturated

Here's something that mainstream health professionals will never tell you...

Saturated fats are actually the healthiest oils to cook with!

Why? Because they are much more stable and less inflammatory than polyunsaturated oils.

This is why tropical oils such as palm and coconut oils (and even animal fats such as butter) are best for cooking... they have very little polyunsaturates and are mostly composed of natural saturated fats which are the least reactive to heat/light and therefore the least inflammatory in your body from cooking use.

That's also why natural butter (NOT margarine) is one of the best fats for cooking. This all goes directly against what you hear in mainstream health talk... because most health professionals don't truly understand the biochemistry of fats, and falsely believe that saturated fats are bad for you... when in fact, they are actually neutral in most instances... and saturated fats from tropical oils are actually good for you as they contain mostly medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are lacking in most people's diets.

In fact, lauric acid is one of the abundant MCTs in tropical oils and is known to strengthen the immune system. Lauric acid is even being studied currently in medical studies for controlling contagious diseases.

To summarize... your best cooking or baking fats are generally butter or tropical oils such as palm or coconut oil. Olive oil (extra virgin preferably) is ok for lower cooking temps as it's mostly monounsaturated, so moderately stable. The mostly polyunsaturated oils such as soybean, grapeseed, cottonseed, safflower, etc, are the least healthy for cooking or baking.

My choices for top healthy cooking oils that I use:

Virgin Coconut Oil

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (only for low temp cooking)

Real Butter (grass fed if possible)

Of course, with all of that said... we should keep in mind that trying minimize our cooking with oils can help to reduce overall calories. Cooking with oils in moderation is ok and can actually help satisfy your appetite more, but be careful not to overdo it as the calories can add up fast.

The Best Vitamin K for Your Arteries and Bones by Dr Julian Whitaker

For years, vitamin K has been the neglected stepchild in the world of nutrition, while vitamins C, D, E, beta-carotene, and others grabbed all the attention. Groundbreaking research, however, is finally propelling vitamin K into the limelight.

This is long overdue because of vitamin Ks plethora of health benefits. Because most of us dont get enough vitamin K in our diets, we all should sit up and take notice.

Vitamin Ks specific function wasnt understood until the 1970s. We now know that it helps orchestrate the movement of calcium in the body. This vitamin not only plays a critical role in getting calcium from our bloodstream into our bones, but it is also involved in the health of your arteries and other tissues. Herein lies the calcium paradox: you need calcium in your bones, but you want it to stay out of your soft tissues and arteries. Some researchers suggest that a high calcium intake is the problem. But the real issue is not getting enough vitamin K to shuttle the calcium into your bones where it belongs. So it seems obvious that we should all increase our daily intake of foods rich in vitamin Kbut its not that simple. Theres more to the vitamin K story.

There are two types of natural vitamin KK1, found primarily in leafy greens, and K2, most abundant in fatty meat, egg yolks, and fermented products such as cheese, sauerkraut, and natto (by far the richest source).

Unfortunately, vitamin K1 is poorly absorbed. And you dont want to go overboard on the K2-rich foods that also contain a lot of saturated fat.

Furthermore, K1 is more involved in blood clotting, while K2 is more protective of the bones and soft tissues.

So, how do you increase your levels of K2? With nutritional supplements. But here again, you need to take the right type.

Vitamin K2 has several subtypes, including MK-4 and MK-7. The one to look for is MK-7. The 7 indicates that there are seven side chains attached to the main molecule. The more side chains, the longer it stays in your system, allowing more time to shuttle calcium out of your arteries and into your bones. A lot of supplements use the MK-4 form of K2, but I think thats just settling. Thats why I recommend the Healthy Directions MK-7its the right form at my recommended dose of 150 mcg daily.

I guarantee youll be hearing much more about vitamin K in the future. As you can see, Im very enthusiastic about this safe, natural way of getting calcium to your bones. Ive made it part of my daily supplement regimen, and I urge you to consider doing the same. Learn more about the best form of vitamin K2.

Sincerely,

Julian Whitaker, MD

P.S. Anyone concerned about their bones, arteries, or both should seriously consider supplementing with vitamin K2but make sure you get the right form. MK-7 is far more bioavailable and active than any other K2.

Dr. Whitakers Health & Healing Newsletter

December 5, 2011

For years, I've been talking about the dangers of prescription pain medications, and now a new study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirms just how dangerous these drugs can be. According to their new data, deaths from prescription pain drugs have tripled since 1999.

Misused prescription pain medications currently kill approximately 15,000 people in the US each year, which exceeds deaths from heroin and cocaine overdoses combined. All of these medications are costing insurers $72.5 million each year unnecessarily! In the end, we're all paying the price with our sky-high insurance premiums.

At this point, the only states monitoring for prescription drug abuse are Missouri and New Hampshire. But setting up government-run babysitting won't solve the problem. The real solution is to clamp down on Big Pharma for pushing pills that are just as dangerous and addictive as illegal drugs.

Plus, we need to get the word out that there are far safer and ultimately more effective ways to manage pain.

For Inflammation: I recommend fish oil. 28 g daily) in place of ibuprofen to dampen inflammation and relieve pain.

Another powerful anti-inflammatory is curcumin, which you can take daily or as needed when your pain flairs up. One of the most bioavailable forms of curcumin is Meriva. Take 500-1,000 mg daily.

To Relieve Pain: Take Univestin, an herbal blend that works in a manner similar to COX-2 inhibitors, but is infinitely safer. You want to take 500 mg of Univestin per day, in divided doses.

To Further Reduce Inflammation and Pain: Try bromelain, an enzyme that naturally clears out inflammatory compounds in injured tissues, promoting faster healing and reducing pain. When used for pain relief, bromelain should be taken on an empty stomach, 250-500 mg twice daily. Do not take bromelain if you are allergic to pineapple.

Try Topical Pain Relief: While oral drugs are rife with danger, topical painkillers are a different story. They can be applied to the exact source of pain, providing faster relief, and their systemic absorption is minimal so you don't have to worry about the dangerous side effects. The topical drugs we've had the most success with at the clinic are ketamine, an anesthetic that curbs pain, and ketoprofen, an NSAID that reduces inflammation. These creams are available from a compounding pharmacist.

If you'd prefer a natural topical pain reliever, you can rub a little DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) into the affected area two or three times a day. This sulfur-rich compound rapidly passes through the skin to tissues below, where it squelches pain and inflammation, mops up free radicals, and speeds healing.

Another good natural topical pain reliever is capsaicin, which comes from cayenne pepper. Look for ointments with capsaicin in your local pharmacy or health food store.

Get Rid of Pain At Its Source: Newly presented research at the EFIC Congress in Hamburg, Germanya pain research organization showed that obese people experience significantly higher levels of pain than those who are normal weight. What they found is that many people wouldn't need pain medications if they simply lost weight.

Need to shed some pounds? Drink more water, increase your fiber intake, and try my mini-fast with exercise.

Constant pain can be almost unbearable. I know that even the most natural-minded folks are tempted to reach for medications when pain really kicks in. But my 30 years of clinical experience have proven that there are plenty of ways to truly prevent and relieve pain, without risking your health.

Plus, many of these solutions--including weight loss, fish oil, and more, actually improve your overall well-being. Thats the way medicine should work.

To your health.

A new study out of Oxford University pinpoints vitamin D deficiency as a culprit in serious illnesses like cancer and autoimmune disorders. According to the report, which was recently published online in the journal Genome Research, genetic receptors throughout the body need adequate vitamin D levels to prevent these and other serious illnesses from developing. ie: Multiple sclerosis, Diabetes, Rheumatoid arthritis, Chron's disease, Leukemia -- these and many more diseases are often caused by a lack of vitamin D. "http://www.naturalnews.com/genes Your genes literally have receptors that need vitamin D in order to properly express themselves. If there is not enough of the vitamin, serious illness is prone to develop. The Oxford team made specific observations about the importance of vitamin D in the genome regions associated with autoimmune diseases and cancer, noting that the nutrient is absolutely vital in helping to prevent these diseases from forming.

"Considerations of vitamin D supplementation as a preventative measure for these diseases are strongly warranted," expressed Sreeram Ramagopalan, author of the study. However, current recommendations for vitamin D intake are unacceptably low, and many nations are considering updating their guidelines. The U.S. Institute of Medicine, for example, recommends getting a mere 200 to 600 international units (IU) of vitamin D a day, an amount far too low to have much therapeutic effect. Since summer sun exposure creates about 20,000 IU of vitamin D in the skin in just 15 minutes, supplementation with at least 5,000 to 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily, particularly during the winter, is preferable. Healthy levels of vitamin D are somewhere between 50 and 80 nano grams per milliliter (ng/ml), so many natural health professionals recommend having a blood test performed to check these levels.>

As many of you know, a new study was released last week saying that multivitamins can cause higher mortality rates in older women.

I was so disappointed to see the supplement industry being attacked again. I want to assure you that using high-quality multinutrient formulations properly, and in conjunction with a well-balanced diet and lifestyle, is a wonderful way to stay healthy and vibrant.

If you take a closer look at the study in question, you would find that it is seriously flawed. The research is faulty and lacking in critical information. For instance, we dont know which supplements the women took, in what amounts, or if they took their supplements regularly. These are all vital criteria, and drawing conclusions from such limited information is irresponsible. From my perspective, this is yet another reason you cant always believe everything you read in the news media. Once again, they have presented a biased view of yet another skewed study on vitamins and supplements, leading you to believe that you should discontinue your use of multinutrient supplements. This is a tremendous disservice to women everywhere. I, for one, have witnessed wonderful results in countless patients over the years for whom I prescribed nutritional supplement regimens to prevent and treat illness and disease. However, its important to remember that not all supplements are created equal. I always recommend finding products that are made with high quality ingredients and are tested for purity.

If you are currently using any of my formulations, you can rest assured that both of these criteria are met so you never have to worry about negative effects. My goal is, and always has been, to help you enjoy vibrantly good health, longevity, and total peace of mind.

Until next time,Susan M. Lark

P.S. I urge you to forward this email on to your friends and family who also may be concerned about this latest assault on vitamins and supplements.

Skip Non-Fermented Soy

Question: I am a vegetarian and use soy milk instead of cows milk. I also eat some meat analogs that are soybased. How much soy is too much?

My experience has clearly shown that choosing to ingest non-fermented soy products such as soy milk and soy meat analogs is not a healthy choice. These items can predispose someone to thyroid problems, as they inhibit the conversion of inactive (T4) to active (T3) thyroid hormone.

Furthermore, soy ingestion causes mineral and vitamin deficiencies. I have seen many more prostate problems in men who ingest non-fermented soy products.

I tell my patients to avoid non-fermented soy products. More information about soy can be found in my newest book, "The Soy Deception."

Relief for Shingles Pain Monday, June 27, 2011 12:08 PM Question: Do you have any suggestions for minimizing pain from shingles? Dr. Blaylock's Answer: Post-herpetic neuralgia (pain caused by shingles episodes) is one of the worst pains one can experience. Newer research has shown that the chronic pain is secondary to immunoexcitotoxicity within the area of the spinal cord supplied by the involved nerve. In one study, the antibiotic minocycline had great success because it reduces microglial activation the source of the immunoexcitotoxicity. St. Johns wort, which also reduces glutamate excitotoxicity, is helpful, too, as is L-theonine. Other useful treatments include curcumin, quercetin (500 mg of each mixed with a tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and taken three times a day), hesperidin, magnesium, vitamin K, and green tea extract (high in EGCG, a potent antioxidant). One Korean anesthesiologist has used a nerve block containing magnesium with great success. To see who would respond best, intravenous magnesium in large doses was tried first. Those who responded best to that treatment also responded best to the nerve block. Oral magnesium supplements also reduce the pain level. Silymarin, by reducing microglial activation, should also reduce the pain. The dose is 400 mg twice a day. To promote nerve repair, one will need high-dose methylcobalamin (10,000 mcg a day), folate, vitamin B6, thiamine, and high-dose riboflavin-5-phosphate (100 mg three times a day). Carnosine and acetyl-L-carnitine promote nerve repair and reduce inflammation as well, especially if taken with R-lipoic acid.

Dr. Al Sears, MD
11903 Southern Blvd., Ste. 208, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411 June 22, 2011

Dear Linda,

The first time I cracked one open I couldnt believe the exotic, chocolaty-vanilla smell. Here I was in one of the most remote parts of the Amazon, looking for healing herbs to bring back for patients at my clinic. And instead I had found the Food of the Gods. Every Single Person Felt Relief!

Researchers at the University of Connecticut gave a unique natural compound to people experiencing common, everyday joint and muscle pain.

Heres what happened...

Every single person felt relief from their pain in a matter of minutes. Their joints became more flexible. They were able to move more freely. And they could climb stairs easily and had more endurance than before.1

Imagine that... a 100% success rate!

Now you can try this same natural treatment that provides you relief from any type of pain youre experiencing. Its easy to apply, it doesnt burn or smell, and there are no side effects.

If you want to stay active and help keep aches and pains away, you owe it to yourself to check this out.

[*1] Kraemer, W.J., Ratamess, N.A., Anderson, J.M., Effect of a cetylated fatty acid topical cream on functional mobility and quality of life of patients with osteoarthritis, Human Performance Laboratory, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut

Thats the Greek name for the tree that produces one of the sweetest, creamiest fruits I have ever eaten.

Its called cupuau (coo-poo-ah-SOO). Have you heard of it?

Let me tell you the story of how I first experienced cupuau...

Andrea is a small town doctor I met in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. He lives in the very tiny, quaint town of Bela Vista deep in the Amazon near the center of South America.

His father was the first white man in the area. He was a Dutch missionary who had to take a helicopter and then a boat to even reach this very, very remote part of Brazil. He came from the Netherlands, and worked with the locals who had never been exposed to white people at all.

I was having a meeting with Andrea, talking about how much things had changed. And how there were only a few isolated pockets, deep in the jungle, that had not been influenced by white people.

He was going to take me to them. And while we were having this meeting Andreas mother said, Oh, those are the people who introduced us to cupuau.

Whats cupuau?

Youve never heard of it?

Andrea's mother, handing me a cupuau milkshake the best milkshake I have ever tasted in my entire life.

She brought out the fruit for me to try... and then she made me a milkshake.

And I dont think I could describe that milkshake with words. It was just incredible. It had a tropical fruit aroma and flavor, but a very distinct cocoa-vanilla aftertaste. It was like a cross between berries, chocolate, vanilla and pineapple.

Cupuau only ripens during the rainy season from January through April. Its so prized everywhere you go in the Amazon River basin and South America that sellers run out every year.

I was lucky enough to be there during season and I got to taste it. It has such a mild, sweet taste that South Americans have been using it as soothing medicine for centuries. Doctors give patients cupuau seeds to chew to relieve stomach pains. Shamans used to bless juice made from cupuau pulp, and give it to women having difficult births.

When modern researchers looked at cupuau, they discovered two previously unknown flavonoids, theograndins I and II.

Flavonoids are antioxidant compounds that provide the color in many fruits and vegetables. They stem from the seeds, skin and certain other parts of fermenting plants, and they help prevent hardening of the arteries. Flavonoids also improve blood flow and blood pressure.

They tested the two theograndins, and found that type I is a potent antioxidant, while type II kills cancer cells. [*1]

Cupuau contains nine other antioxidants. Four of them are glucuronides. They bind to toxins that your liver traps, and helps flush them from your system.

Another is epicatechin, an antioxidant that other members of the chocolate family have. It acts like insulin, helping lower your blood sugar when you eat cupuau, even though its creamy and sweet.

South Americans have used cupuau for energy for thousands of years. One of the reasons is that cupuau contains theobromine, a stimulant similar to caffeine. But theobromine doesnt act on your central nervous system as much as caffeine. So you dont get the shakes and jitters.

Cupuau also has quercetin, an energy-booster you may have heard of. In fact a study by the Arnold School of Health at the University of South Carolina showed quercetin can dramatically increase energy and endurance in active, healthy adults. [*2]

Another reason cupuau gives you energy is that its full of saturated fatty acids the good kind of fat. Your body can pack these kinds of fats together very tightly. This lets your body store a lot of energy very densely. Your body also uses fatty acids to make hormone-like substances that regulate blood pressure, blood clotting, cholesterol, immunity and your response to injury and infection.

The sweet-smelling, exotic-tasting pulp fills most of the inside of the fruit. People in the Amazon basin use it to make different kinds of drinks, ice cream, jam and dessert tarts.

Its very difficult to get fresh cupuacu in the United States. But fortunately, you dont have to go to the Amazon jungle like I did to try cupuau. You can now find different cupuau products in health food stores. Mostly youll find it in ice cream and juices. You might see cupuau included in various energy drinks, but you dont get the full effect that way. The best thing to do if you cant get fresh cupuau is to find cupuau powder, or frozen cupuau pulp.

When you make the juice, youll get a rich, buttery-smooth, tropical-looking drink like a poured milk shake with a fruity but chocolaty taste. You can also find cupuau in skin creams and even shampoo. What they do is press the seeds to release the oil, and make cupuau butter. All those fatty acids are excellent for keeping your skin soft and elastic. Plus they have an anti inflammatory effect, and create an effective skin barrier that stops moisture loss.

We like cupuau so much, I have been working hard to get it out of the Brazilian rainforest for you.

In fact, I am using it in my new and improved ubiquinol, so keep an eye out for it. It will be a wafer instead of a pill so that you can taste the great flavor of cupuau just like I did that day in Brazil.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

Dr. Al Sears, MD
11903 Southern Blvd., Ste. 208, Royal Palm Beach, FL 33411

Dear Linda,

Theres some important information I want to share with you today about toxins. Harmful toxins are in the air you breathe, the household items you use and even some of the foods you eat. But I know some natural ways you can help rid yourself of these toxic substances and help get your body back on track.

It all starts with what you put in your body.

You see, certain foods act as natural detoxifiers. They help your body discard built-up toxins. Some of the more effective foods include those rich in vitamin C like locally-grown, organic fruits, berries and fresh vegetables like:

1.Grapefruit. One of my favorite foods for detox is grapefruit. This is because it binds to toxins and helps flush them from your body. The secret behind grapefruit is it contains a powerful antioxidant called narigenin that helps reprogram your liver to melt excess fat, instead of storing it.

Well, toxins tend to settle in the fat around your tissues, including your liver. Eating grapefruit can help slow or even stop this process. I suggest adding a grapefruit a day to your menu.

2.Garlic. Another cleansing food is garlic. Garlic helps boost the ability of your white blood cells to fight the effects of toxins in your body. Three cloves of fresh garlic per day should be enough for you to notice a difference. If you dont like the smell of garlic, you can get odorless aged garlic supplements at any reputable health food store.

While these two solutions are excellent ways to help detox your body naturally, of these are good ways to detox naturally, one of the most effective ways to cleanse your body of impurities is to use an herbal remedy at least twice a year. Not only will it help support proper functioning of your systems, it will help you feel fresh and clean inside.

Native Remedies has a natural solution containing a selection of herbs designed to help support a clean body and help refresh your body systems.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.