Strong Medicine- Eric Serrano MD

How do different types of fat--polyunsaturated, monosaturated, and saturated fats, affect fat loss and how are different versions of each type of fat metabolized differently?  For example, how are MCTs metabolized differently than other types of saturated fats? How is CLA metabolized differently than other trans fats?

Research shows that fats we eat can affect our own fat cells in two ways:
1. Increasing the volume or the size of the fat cell
2. By increasing the numbers of fat cells

However, fish oils, which are omega 3 fatty acids are considered a polyunsaturated oil, have been shown to not only decrease size of fat cells, but also the number of fat cells. Research also shows that the other types of polyunsaturated oils, such as: corn oil, canola oil, and other vegetable oils increase the size of fat cells, so obviously avoiding vegetable oils is helpful if you are trying to lose body fat.

Now, most people think that polyunsaturated fats are the best, and they are correct up to a point, but what happens when we heat, fry or cook with polyunsaturated fats? Heating actually destroys them. It can make them become rancid, or convert them to hydrogenated fats. Rancid oils are full of toxins and hydrogenated oils clog the arteries and both will have increase fat cell size.

Saturated fats which contain cholesterol, are the fats that we have all been told will make us fat, and clog the arteries. This is true in a sense, but not the whole story. Animals raised on grain (yes including farm-raised fish) are all commercially-raised animal fats which will increase fat cell volume.

Saturated fats like palm oil and coconut oil are stable and don't get damaged as easily as polyunsaturated fats. While the big drug companies will tell you to avoid saturated fats and keep your cholesterol low, in reality cholesterol is the most abundant antioxidant in the body. 90% of known hormones are made out of cholesterol. The body makes 60% of the cholesterol. The brain is 60% fat and composed of cholesterol. When you get older, and your cholesterol is below 150, then your chances of getting depressed or dying of cancer are higher than dying of a heart attack.

In addition, the brain and the joints are made up primarily of saturated fats; consequently, saturated fats are necessary for health. The KEY here is to eat saturated fats from healthy sources such as grass-fed beef. Grass-fed beef will give your body the saturated fats your body needs as building blocks, but will not increase your chances for heart attacks or other health problems. Saturated fats also will not cause an increase in your fat cell numbers or size; unless of course, you are eating unreasonable quantities.

As far as medium chain triglycerides (MCT’s) and metabolism go, the body will be able to metabolize the shorter chain triglycerides first. The longer the chain, the longer time it takes for the body to digest it and metabolize it. It must break apart the bonds first.

CLA is not a trans fat, but a cis and trans fat, and researchers think that one is better than the other. I don't agree, and my reason is because if nature put it in butter, and other natural occurring substances, it must be for a good reason. Studies have been done with both the trans and the cis fats, and research shows the cis works better but I believe there is more research to be done in this area.

What are the mechanisms and how easily can CLA be metabolized--I don't have the answer, but I highly recommend it for athletes, and that is why I created a product that has a specific ratio of mono, poly, and CLA. CLA at correct levels are beneficial especially in combination with toxin filtrated sources of  DHA/EPA- popularly known as Omega 3’s or fish oil.  The Alpha Omega is a complete essential fatty acid complex unmatched for quality.  Be aware that price club type fish oil supplements may be contaminated due to the cheap raw materials used to lower costs. You get what you pay for!  In addition to the detrimental impact of toxin consumption they also interfere with absorption of the raw materials as the body instinctively expels all ingredients in can associate with toxins.  Are cheap supplements a good investment if none of the materials are utilized?

I conducted my own personal research in my office with  Alpha Omega, taking only 3 tablets per day, and skin dryness and joint pain was reduced by 67%, with menstrual pain gone 100% of the time if taking 6 tablets. How often do you get results like this from only essential fats?

Good dietary fat intake must increase especially Alpha Omega which can help to correct omega 3 to 6 deficiencies that you most likely encounter.  The right dietary fat choices have a strong correlation to anabolic hormone production- vital to every element of performance and body composition.  Take a look at this article uncovering the secrets to manipulating fat cells in your favor and how impacts body fat loss. 

Fats are amazing substances, and there is a lot we don't know. For now, remember that polyunsaturated fats are the most fattening, saturated fats are necessary to the body, but get them from grass-fed beef and meats, so as not to get the artery clogging problems associated with commercial meats.

Grass-fed beef and dairy products are also high in CLA's which are known to be essential for metabolizing fats.

What is the difference between the cholesterol levels of grass fed beef and the beef that I get in the market? I had high cholesterol levels and I had to cut out steak and red meat which I love. I am also a strongman competitor and I know the benefits of good protein daily. 

Great question!
There are no differences in cholesterol structure, but the difference is in the type of fats. Let me first explain by saying that a non-organic beef will have a lot more saturated fat and within those fats, a lot of toxins, which interfere with the way you metabolize those fats and how it affects your cholesterol.

The fats in organic meat are in different ratios because of what the animals consume and they are without toxins because they are not feed pesticides or hormones, which also impacts your cholesterol.

People watch what they eat, and follow the saying, "you are what you eat", but we need to pay attention to the diet of the animals we are consuming. Organic beef will influence your overall cholesterol up to a point, but not the LDL (the bad cholesterol). 

In my office I see people's cholesterol improve with organic beef, meaning that the total cholesterol might go up a little, but the good cholesterol goes way up (HDL) and the bad cholesterol (LDL) goes down. Now when they eat regular beef, cheeses or even chickens that are not organically raised their bad (LDL) cholesterol goes up.

The following are my general rules for keeping your cholesterol under control:

1-Consume only organic meats.
2-Avoid dairy and cheeses for 4 weeks.
3-Avoid sweets and juices (yes juices are sugar!)
4-Avoid carbohydrates, except sweet potatoes and whole brown rice, and only consume after physical activity.
5-Beer is a big elevator for cholesterol, so avoid beer.
6- Drink plenty of water.
7-Nuts will raise your good cholesterol, but try to eat organic nuts.
8-Elevated cholesterol can also indicate a hormonal problem, because in actuality cholesterol is not bad, it is one of your most important antioxidants and the mother of 90% of your hormones, so if your cholesterol is high it might indicate a hormonal imbalance.
9-Stress will elevate cholesterol because it is required for the formation of cortisone.
10-Over training will increase cholesterol, so it means that you need to make adjustments in your training schedule.
11-Check your cholesterol after four weeks see if you notice an improvement.

Take care and let me know how you do in four weeks!

As a nutrition therapist I love to advocate for the inclusion of grass-fed meats and healthy fats in the diet. I have two questions:

Much of the information and testimony available to share with my clients comes from accomplished athletes or vigorous, robust individuals. People who are overweight and out-of-shape are more concerned about including fats and red meat in their diets.

Aside from total amount of food eaten each day, do you feel the role of grass-fed meat and healthy fat should be different in the diet of a person just beginning the road to fitness?

My expertise is performance, and I love dealing with athletes, especially if they play competitive sports like baseball, football and softball.

After seeing over ten thousand patients, I find that under eating is one of the biggest mistakes and the same people usually are eating a lot of junk food. Every patient that I see gets a complete physical and emotional exam, and I take blood, saliva, or urine samples, depending on what I need, and then I make decisions on what to do. I have never cured a patient because I don't cure anybody, my patients cure themselves; I only give guidelines.

In my practice I use meat sources often within nutrition plans.  I also utilize a 'dietary fat loading day', with organic meats, fats and extra virgin olive oil and vinegar. I use this technique with my overweight patients, because I have to teach the body to burn fat and to do that the body has to eat fat. There is no one diet that works for everyone, because of differences related to:
1-sex
2-race

3-exercise
4-relationships
5-work

6-Eating Habits
7-height
8-Medications
9-support structure
10-motivation
11-weight and body fat %
12 Age

Please submit questions for Dr. Serrano by emailing scott@infinityfitness.com  The questions should not be of a medical nature requesting specific advice for conditions.  He will answer questions as quickly as possible based on availability of

None of the statements within this article have been approved by the FDA

Give consideration to my consultation service which provides customized training and nutrition programs so that you can make the best use of your time and effort. 

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