We are blowing through literature, ghee, and coconut oil, so it seems the fats revolution is catching on! The most important piece of information we can convey is that it really matters how the animal was raised or how the oil was processed. There is a huge difference between factory-farmed meat, eggs, and dairy, and grass-fed, pastured animal products.
First let’s look at Barbara’s question regarding fats and osteoporosis, with a focus on sesame oil. Rick wrote up a sensible response, below. Please note: We are not doctors or certified nutritionists, just well-read, well-practiced individuals. We cannot and do not wish to imply that anything we write or say will diagnose, treat, cure, or mitigate disease. Each person’s constitution and specific circumstances determines her or his level of health and any appropriate adjustments. While we may not always agree with the medical establishment in our country, we certainly respect the ideals of safety for which the FDA etc. were created. The choices and resources at our fingertips in our nation and community are indeed incredible, and for that we are grateful. If you are on the hunt for a medical practitioner who embraces holistic methods, please see our ever-expanding Practitioner Directory. Our bulletin board in-store is also full of folks who have trained in health and nutrition counseling. We encourage you to avail yourselves of their knowledge.
“Fats are crucial to bone health, although it is somewhat of a controversial subject with regards to which fats and in what amounts. Without doubt, every meal should contain at least a solid serving of a nutritious, minimally-processed fat. The fat-soluble nutrients (vit A, D, E and K) all play a role in calcium uptake and bone support, and cannot be absorbed by the gut if there is an absence of fat in the diet. Butter, ghee and coconut oil, rich in saturated fats, are often considered excellent foods for boosting the absorption of these (and other) nutrients. also consider the fact that grass-fed butter in particular contains a small but appreciable amount of vitamins D, A and K2.
“Another consideration with regards to fats are whether or not they produce inflammation in the body. Excess inflammation can foster accelerated bone loss, while fats, playing an integral role in the production of prostaglandins that either cause or resolve inflammation, can work either for or against the longevity of your bones. Processed and refined oils, such as canola, corn, soybean, REFINED sunflower, REFINED sesame and safflower, will often yield free radicals and potential harmful oxidation–which the body responds to with inflammation. Multiple studies have shown that alpha-linolenic-acid, an omega-3 fat found in walnuts, flaxseeds, chia, hemp et al. can help to prevent excessive bone turnover by influencing and modulating our metabolism of inflammation. Small amounts of sesame oil might also be helpful, as it has been studied for having bone preserving effects–possibly because of its high antioxidant content (sesamol) and the fact that sesame seeds themselves are rather high in calcium.” Thanks for asking!
One of our dearest customers Tracy recommended a product this week: “One new product that I have really enjoyed is Earth’s Balance Coconut Spread. Great taste and a good fat.” This spread can be found to the right of the milk refrigerator, with the butters.
Also of note this week is an article Bob discovered that pertains directly to the potentially devastating effects of the low-fat, low-sunshine diet- this time, about autism. Not everything Dr. Mercola says should be taken as law, but his research is extensive and reliable. We certainly *do not* mean that mothers are to “blame” for yet another unfortunate side effect of our pharma- and quick-fix obsessed culture. Rather, we mean that it is high time for the same old song and dance to be revised so that mothers and children (and everyone else) alike can stop suffering under such faulty information. Please share this article with anyone you know who is looking forward to conceiving in the future. Regarding the myelin sheath around our nerves: magnesium is a crucial component of the same. According to Donna, our staff RN/Herbalist, magnesium has been deficient in our soil since the 1920′s. For some in-depth info, follow this link and scroll down to the section on magnesium. Further discussion on the role of sugar and magnesium depletion can be found here. Again, take everything you read with a grain of salt. The Franklin Institute site seems based in decent information and unbiased by Big Food or Big Drug. Mineral balance is a complex topic, and an important piece of total health.
One final note: when consuming a diet heavy in fats and animal products, it is crucial to fill the rest of your plate with as many fresh vegetables as you can eat in a sitting, with each meal. Vegetables provide minerals, carbs, and more importantly, gentle fiber. Fiber will keep what you eat moving through your system, rather than stagnating. Appropriately, our March topic will be the beautiful world of organic produce.
