Comments on: Podcast Episode #72: Double Interview Super Special – Barefoot Running & Esssential Fatty Acids!

By: Episode #105: A Peek Into The Life of An Ironman, Natural Medicine Physician. | Ben Greenfield Fitness

Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:01:10 +0000

[...] In my response, I reference my barefoot running interview with Tellman Knudson. [...]

By: How to Increase Testosterone. | Ben Greenfield Fitness

How to Increase Testosterone. | Ben Greenfield Fitness — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:34:24 +0000

[...] from podcasts #53 (six key performance factors), #62 (Ben’s performance testing results) and #72 (essential fatty acids), I find out the final results of my home saliva testing for testosterone, and whether I was [...]

By: Ben Greenfield

Ben Greenfield — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:45:50 +0000

Lance,

Give this a read!

http://www.hammernutrition.com/za/HNT?PAGE=ARTICLE&ARTICLE.ID=8940

By: Lance

Lance — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 00:25:33 +0000

I disagree. It’s called the produce section, and it’s the most important step to take. Fruits, veggies, whole grains, legumes, occasional nuts and seeds; I feel Nature trumps the labcoats. On the other hand, I have been impressed by the research on Vit D and magnesium presented in the podcast.

By: Ben Greenfield

Ben Greenfield — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:20:37 +0000

Unfortunately for most people, whole, unrefined plant foods are very hard to find in their unadulterated form. Hence the need for supplementation…

By: Lance

Lance — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 18:33:12 +0000

I believe Nature got it right the first time, and that all the EFA’s we need are already present in whole, unrefined plant foods. There is no need to add any concentrated fats. Worldwide, fat intake correlates strongly to chronic disease risk, whether it is animal, saturated, extracted or what have you. I know that for myself, eliminating animal fats and vegetable oils is the best thing I have ever done. If I stray by eating food that I did not prepare myself containing oils or butter, I can tell the difference for several hours in decreased energy and focus.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:57:38 +0000

The type and ratio of fatty acids is the key to health, not eliminating them, and that ratio has been upset in many American’s diets. One example is when Americans shifted from consuming mostly butter (and no liquid oils) to consuming mostly vegetable oils and the concurrent dramatic rise in heart disease and cancer which were practically non-existent at the turn of the century. Another example is our shift to consuming mass-produced battery cage eggs in which the omega 6 content can be up to 19 times the omega 3. In a free range, organic, pasture fed chicken egg, the ratio is the healthy 1:1 ratio. This is also true with our meat. Factory-farmed grain-fed beef can have ratios that exceed 20:1 whereby grass-fed beef or bison is down around 3:1. Studies suggest that health problems start to arise when the ratio exceeds 4:1. One study states “In the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease, a ratio of 4/1 was associated with a 70% decrease in total mortality.” Don’t eliminate fats, just eat the right kinds, in the right ratio from a healthier source.

By: Lance

Lance — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:12:34 +0000

The China Study studied populations throughout China, from rural to urban to get a large sample with the same genetics (Han Chinese). They used the range of macronutrient intakes to look for disease correlations. They aimed for as large a sample as possible, so did not single out a subgroup called “athletes”. However, the rural subjects worked very hard physically, so would be quite athletic by our standards. But many subjects, probably urban, were probably more sedentary. The general conclusion is that a high carb, high fiber, very low fat diet resulted in maximum disease prevention. This is echoed in the Wilcox brothers’ study of Okinawan centenarians’ longevity. Both of these studies contradict Cohen’s claim that no populations ate a low fat diet, since rural Asian diets are typically measured at about 10% kcal from fat. There is also the example of the Tarahumara, who ethnographers estimated ate 90% of their calories from two foods: corn and beans. I’ve heard they are pretty good runners…

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:13:06 +0000

Ben,
In this podcast it is sugessted that a ratio of Omega 3′s to Omega 6′s should be about 1:1. What would a diet that achieves this actually look like though? Thanks!

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:34:49 +0000

I’m curious if the Campbell study was done on athletes, general population, or other. Regardless, you raise some very good points. I am going to see what Dr. Cohen has to say.

Ben

By: Lance

Lance — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:45:17 +0000

I enjoy the podcast and columns for Everymantri. I was a little disturbed by the fat discussion. Research done by Campbell in the China-Oxford-Cornell study show fat to be problematic at best, deadly at worst. Ornish and Esselstyn REVERSE heart disease by using a whole, unrefined plant foods diet at about 10% kcal from fat. Vogel has demonstrated the endothelial damage done by a single fatty meal. Since Cohen mainly talked about functions of fat and Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratios, I was at a loss as to what guidelines one should follow. Of course we need, EFA’s, but research suggests we need more than what is already present in whole, unrefined plant foods?

By: Ben Greenfield

Ben Greenfield — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 22:05:48 +0000

Hi Clif,

My book will be coming out next year in bookstores worldwide. It is entitled “How to Get Fat”. Keep your eyes open!

By: Clif

Clif — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:30:24 +0000

Ahhh,
thanks for the link to that article Ben!! Now I have another thing to do in addition to catching up to all the podcasts; catch up on all those articles as well. That was one of the more “to the point” and focused articles regarding fat sources I’ve read. I wish the general population, and not just people you help or I try to help at the grocery store, had more mainstream coverage of exactly what you wrote.

Thanks again,
clif

By: Ben Greenfield

Ben Greenfield — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:59:52 +0000

Hi Clif,

I have never suggested people should steer clear of fats due to the saturated fat and cholesterol content. I have only ever suggested that individuals pursuing fat loss limit their consumption of calorie rich foods…including butter, chocolate, milk and *any* high calorie food. But not due to cholesterol or sat’d fat content. As a matter of fact, here’s an article I wrote back in September 2006: http://pacificfit.net/newsletters/newsletter16.html

By: clif

clif — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 07:44:18 +0000

I have a question regarding what Dr. Cohen had to say regarding butter, and other animal fats. Up to this interview, you generally would suggest that people should stay clear of those fats due to the saturated fat and cholesterol content (while of course giving out great advice that people should eat more fat). Now that you have had Dr. Cohen on and he talked about those fats not being bad (from grassfed beef) do you think that you will change your suggestions at all?

Dr. Cohen was a great interview, although I’d like to get more info on barefoot running, as I am not a runner, but do train in vibrams or barefoot. Looking forward to the next podcast.

By: penstinjoney

penstinjoney — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:23:53 +0000

another good article about barefoot running and a website that has some good options is here