Stop Demonizing Olive Oil

Jay Kordich lived to be almost 100 on a raw vegan diet, including olive oil in his diet on a daily basis (Link). Other EXTREMELY healthy long-term vegans that include olive oil are Markus Rothkranz, Dr. Brian Clement, Karyn Calabrese and Dr. Neal Barnard.

High Fat Diets and Heart Disease

I believe that fats have an important value in a balanced diet, but it's important to remember moderation is valuable as well. Too much of a good thing can be bad, and I think this is true regarding high fat foods. While avocados, free range eggs, olives, nuts, seeds and other high-fat whole foods definitely have health benefits, it's also important to maintain balance in one's diet.

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warn that a diet high in fat and cholesterol may raise the risk of heart disease and cardiovascular illnesses, such as atherosclerosis — a disorder in which arteries can lose their elasticity" (LINK).

Also, "when Dr. Hazen did a study comparing 51 habitual meat eaters with 26 vegetarians or vegans (Nat Med. 2013;19:576-585), he found that the vegetarians and vegans had much lower concentrations of plasma TMAO than did the meat eaters." High levels of TMAO tend to be predictors of future heart disease (LINK).

For these reasons, limiting oils, eggs, high fat dairy and high fat meats is probably a smart idea. This doesn't necessarily mean removing all of these foods from your diet, but creating a balanced diet that is rich in whole foods, healthy proteins and healthy starches.

But what to eat instead of all of the butter, bacon and grease? Consider these foods instead: healthy stir fries with lots of veggies, beans, lentils, smoothies with protein powder, almonds, brown rice, tofu, organic potatoes, salads with a bit less olive oil, one or two free range eggs instead of three or four, etc.

Long Term Health. Raw Food Inspiration.

All of the following people have found success on a high raw diet. Basically, most of their food is uncooked and vegan, yet they also tend to include some cooked foods. While fruit is a part of their diets, they do not eat fruit as their primary source of calories. Instead their diets tend to focus on foods like avocados, salads, vegetable juices, cooked beans, green smoothies, nuts, seeds and even some oils. 

Annette Larkins, Born in 1942: "She's been a vegetarian for 54 years, but over the last 30 years she has perfected her raw vegan diet. Her plant-based diet does not include any animal products. The food she eats is unprocessed and uncooked. Her dishes include vegetarian nut loaf, zucanni chips, and savory okra crisps. Annette says it's never too late to reap the benefits of a vegan lifestyle." (Link)

Mimi Kirk, Born in 1938: “I’ve been a vegetarian or vegan for the better part of 40 years. However, when I turned 69, I became a raw vegan because my blood pressure and cholesterol were up and I was starting to feel arthritic pains in my joints. Six months later, at my doctor’s appointment, everything was normal. And the best part: I didn’t have to start taking any prescriptions drugs.” (Link)

Dr. Robert Cassar, Born in 1961

Markus Rothkranz, Born in 1962

Karyn Calabrese, Born in 1947

Sunny Griffin, Born in 1940