Whats the deal with olive oil? Is it really better for you than the other types? Someone said I should only use olive oil and switch from sugar to honey. Isn't honey also just sugar?

Sorry dumb guy questions but just curious.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003

Answers

Honey is better because it is not refined like regular sugar. Just take a whiff in a bag of sugar....does not smell like food, does it? The body still recognizes honey as sugar though, so diabetics and dieters still need to limit the amounts they use. Olive oil is better than most other oils because of the molecular make up of it, as I recall...though I cannot remember the details, I studied up on this years ago and decided that olive oil is first choice, and canola oil second (this is what I use for baking)..... Never any hydrogenated fats. This is where the real trouble lies.

Idaho Gal

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003

Idaho Gal: I really use very little fat in my diet but my joints have really given me some trouble lately. I wonder if I've gone a little overboard. I'll try a little olive oil.

Hey your right. I just stuck my nose in the sugar and it doesn't smell to great. Course I should be tested somewhere else cuz Barb told me to keep my freaking nose out of the cannister! Can she talk to me that way?.......Kirk

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003

Just wait to hear what she says when she sees you doing "the Pooh Bear" smelling the hunny crock :>)

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2003

Honey is better because it contains minerals and enzymes (particularly if its unrefined); sugar is dead. Its true all sugars are utilized similarly by the body, but honey is a 'live' food, and of course can be produced in your backyard without interference by the industrial food system, not to mention the benefit of encouraging honey production which is good for the environment.

Olive oil is the preferred vegetable oil; we use some nut oils as well, but they are expensive. I don't go near any of the others anymore myself. Course you all know how I feel about soy, a bit of safflower once in while is ok I suppose, but I wouldn't personally recommend canola. If you do a search you'll quickly find out all kinds of nasty stuff about canola.

Butter/lard from organic, grass-fed animals is an excellent, healthful fat in most people's diet.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2003

Hey Kirk, Did you ever consider Glucosime, Condrotin with MSM? You can get it all together. Works really well on joints. My father-in- law was walking so much better when he was taking it but he stopped saying he had trouble "going" in the morning. I told him to eat prunes and keep taking the Pills but he won't, now he's having trouble walking again.

They put it in dog food now, espically for large breeds. Got to be something to it.

I always cook with olive oil. They say that Italian people have less heart problems because of it.

I also use local honey since it is suppose to help with allergies.

-- Anonymous, January 12, 2003

Kirk, your body needs a certain amount of oil each day to function properly. The membrane which forms the outer layer of every cell in your body is made of lipids, and since your body is constantly manufacturing new cells it's important to have a source of high quality fat to use as building blocks. The reason why those other oils and stuff like margarine are bad for you is because when they get incorporated into your cells they make the membranes stiff. You want your cells to be like balloons, not like rocks. :-) Most people are deficient in omega 6 fatty acids, you can find them in fatty fish like salmon. If you eat an especially low fat diet then you may want to suppliment with something like flaxseed oil or fish oil. You can find these at your health food store. They go rancid quickly so I'd advise buying small bottles and keep it in the fridge.

-- Anonymous, January 13, 2003

Dee is that a capsule or something that you take for joint pain?

Sherri thanks for the explanation. I think I'd better put a little more oil into my diet. I really eat very low fat because I gain weight FAST when I eat wrong.....Kirk

-- Anonymous, January 14, 2003