Scientifically documented information on the harmful effects of trans fatty acids (fake fats) and highly processed oils has actually been known since the early 1950's. Scientists in the U. S., Europe, and Canada have shown that trans fats fed to lab animals cause many very damaging changes. See our column in the September 1995 issue of Emu Today & Tomorrow for a detailed discussion on this.

We won't have accurate answers on the damage that trans fats are doing to people until human studies are conducted however, we know without any doubt whatsoever that the damage is great. Dr. Mary G. Enig formerly of the University of Maryland is an expert on fats and oils. In articles published in the Journal of American College of Nutrition 1990; 9(5): 471-486 and the Food Chemical News, September 2, 1991, Dr. Enig says, a bag of potato chips comes with the statement "low saturated fat and cholesterol free"; what it does not say is that the product contains a whopping amount of trans fatty acids. "The only reason for not including the trans fatty acids on the label of food is because the edible oil industry is afraid to let the consumer know it even exists, let alone the actual amounts." Dr. Enid, who has studied trans fats for decades has analyzed more than 600 foods to determine their fatty acid content. She says that Americans consume as much as 20% of the fat that they eat daily in the form of trans fatty acids. Dr. Enig also notes that trans fats contribute to cancer, diabetes, and obesity, and adversely affect reproduction and lactation.

A recent study conducted in the Netherlands by two Dutch scientists published in the New England Journal of medicine on August 16, 1990 also shows the poisonous effects of trans fats. Their research revealed that trans fats from refined oils increase the LDL or bad cholesterol as much as saturated fats do and they actually lower the HDL or good cholesterol. Even saturated fats do not reduce HDL cholesterol. This study confirms once again that these plasticized vegetable oils contribute to heart disease and cancer.

Associated Press, May 16, 1994: "A startling new report out of Harvard University says a little known type of fat that lurks in margarine and other processed foods could be responsible for 30,000 of the nation's annual heart disease deaths."

Dr. Walter Willett, Harvard's chief of nutrition, said the American people are "being grossly misled" regarding saturated vegetable oils. According to Dr. Willett, trans fatty acids double the risk of heart attack. Dr. Willett's commentary was published in the May 1994 issue of the American Journal of Public Health. The downfall of healthy animal and tropical vegetable fats occurred as a result of good propaganda, not the result of good science. One of the earliest studies was totally ignored. Dr. T. W. Gullickson; professor of Dairy Chemistry at the University of Minnesota, was trying to find a more economical method for raising calves for veal production. He removed the expensive cream layer from the milk and substituted cheap processed vegetable oils. What happened? The calves all died. Gullickson's corn oil diet (corn oil is a highly promoted form of margarine) caused 80% of the calves to die in less than 6 months. Some calves died in less than thirty days.

Dr. Michael DeBakey, who is probably the most renowned heart surgeon on the face of this globe, shocked and stunned the medical establishment a little over a year ago at an international symposium on heart disease in Glasgow, Scotland, where he stated that data from his 4,000 patients treated over a 40 year period, show that cholesterol is not the primary cause of heart disease.

The current dietary recommendations of orthodox medicine obviously are not working however most people are unaware of this. Over one million people die each year in this country from cardiovascular problems. A study of 605 patients published in the British Journal of Medicine, Lancet, in 1994 is most enlightening. Researchers in France followed the progress of 605 patients who were hospitalized following a first heart attack. The people from the Mediterranean island of Crete and those from Kohama Island in Japan have the lowest incidence of heart disease in the world. Both of these groups have a high dietary intake of alpha-linolenic acid. Three hundred and three patients were placed on a diet high in alpha-linolenic acid. Three hundred and two patients were also placed on the diet recommended by a major U. S. heart association that restricts cholesterol and saturated fats and increases the intake of polyunsaturated fats (vegetable oils). Over a twenty seven month period, the blood cholesterol levels, blood pressures, and patient weights remained essentially the same for both groups, however, there was such a drastic difference in the health and survival of the patients that the study was discontinued, and all patients were placed on the diet high in alpha-linolenic acid.

The following chart shows very graphically the difference in survival of the patients during the twenty seven month period that it was conducted:

Research data and the statistics available to anyone who wishes to know the true facts show that the major theory being fostered by orthodox medicine that blames cholesterol for heart disease simply is not correct. We have no doubts that PROPERLY processed emu oil can be a very heart healthy product which can have a very profound positive effect on the health of everyone. As we scientifically document this fact and make it known to the general public, we will find that the demand for PROPERLY processed emu oil will very likely strain supplies. Scientific research is indeed confirming that the magnificent emu will have a very beneficial and major impact on human health.

What we must be very aware of however, is that many of the processes being used to "refine" emu oil are such that there are profound differences in the composition and physiochemical properties of the oil as processed when compared to the original emu fat. The emu fat has been so chemically changed in such "refining" that the question as to whether such products should even be allowed to be called emu oil needs to be addressed.

Copyright (c) 1995 by Canyon Ranch.  All rights reserved.

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