Bullish on the Oils (not what you think!)

With the positive feedback received from my post on Self-Help books, I've decided to occasionally make posts outside this blog's usual focus on picking value stocks. But posts that you might still find interesting. I'm thinking of making this a regular weekend feature, but we'll see how it goes.

Several years ago, I started making extra virgin olive oil and cod liver oil a regular part of my diet. And I've also incorporated extra virgin coconut oil in the past year to year-and-a-half.

As with my post last week on Self-Help books -- I make no claims to life-changing transformations. But I must say that I've felt a significant improvement health-wise since using these oils. I have never been what you'd call "sickly," but I'd get the occasional cold and/or sore throat. Then a case of the flu every so often.

Yet since using these on daily (or at least semi-daily) basis, I cannot recall having a sore throat or bad cold. And I've definitely not had the flu. I think the last time I had the flu was in 1996 -- ten years ago. (I REALLY hope I'm not cursing myself by saying this!) ;-)

Maybe this is all just luck. I don't think so. One reason I say that is -- in addition to the nutrients in these oils boosting my body's natural resistance to infections -- I've noticed increased mental energy and stamina over time since using them.

Here's a breakdown of these oils:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: You can buy this in any grocery store. Just make sure the label says "Extra Virgin" (duh!) and either "First Cold Pressed" or "First Cold Pressing." Throw away your bottled salad dressings and use this along with vinegar. You might have to develop a taste for it, but it's worth it. You can also use extra virgin olive oil in all sorts of cooking and baking recipes.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: You might find this in your local grocery store, but often you'll have to visit a health food store or order it online. Extra virgin coconut oil has been catching on bigtime over the past two years because it keeps its nutritional value during frying. Most oils, from what I know, lose some of their nutrients when fried at high temperatures. You can also just take it by the spoonful, use it in herbal teas, or any number of recipes.

Cod Liver Oil: You can get this terrible-tasting stuff in most grocery stores and certainly health food stores. Your great-grandmother would probably tell you this is best cold-and-flu preventive out there. Would she be right? I dunno -- but I do know I haven't gotten really sick since I made taking a spoonful of this stuff part of my daily routine. And, if you just can't stand the taste of the regular stuff, you can get it flavored or in tablet form.

Let me stress a few things. First, any benefits you enjoy with using these oils will only come over time. You don't get rich quick in investing. And you won't get amazing health and energy overnight either.

Second, I'm not a doctor. I'm just reporting here something that's proved beneficial to me and, if you'd like to give these a try, I hope you'll see positives as well.

And third, these oils should be part of an otherwise sensible lifestyle. They're not miracle makers. And they can't overcome diets consisting of fast foods and overdose amounts of processed sugar, not to mention overcome the effects of chain-smoking cigarettes and getting zero exercise.

With those caveats -- enjoy!

Comments

[Moon]

Flax seed oil is another good one, for joint and skin health.

Thanks for the word on extra virgin coconut oil; hadn't heard about that one.

[Dennis Mangan]

Cod liver oil is rich in vitamin D, which has recently been found to be involved in myriad biochemical functions including immunity. It's also been found that the majority f people in northern climes are deficient due to modern lifestyle and sun avoidance. So cod liver oil could have a huge beneficial impact. However, it's loaded with vitamin A, and you could get toxic with that. Better to take 5000 IU D supplements from BioTech Pharmacal.

[John]

Moon: Yes, I've heard good things about flax seed oil, and flax seed itself. Extra virgin coconut oil is more expensive than olive oil, from what I've seen, but hopefully it will get more affordable with growing popularity.

Dennis: I'll stick with real cod liver oil myself. But you make a good point. Readers need to research these before taking them. (For example, you have to be careful in giving cod liver oil to small children.) A person shouldn't just buy a stock because I am, and they certainly start ingesting things because I do! :-)

[Jeffrey Miller]

Have you heard of Seth Roberts?
He's a pyschologist at UC Berkeley who does a lot of self-experimentation. He's got a new
diet based on these experiments which involves taking these kinds of oils:

http://www.sethroberts.net/

Some of the people who are trying the diet have noted on his blog good side effects from the oil similiar to what you observe.

I've started the diet and have started taking 2 tbls of flax seed oild per day. I haven't yet lost much weight, but I have noticed a marked improvement in the quality of my sleep.

[Eileen]

Extra virgin coconut oil? I know that coconut milk contains saturated fat. lots of it. Wonder if coconut oil has it too?

[John]

Jeffrey: No, I hadn't heard of Roberts, and know nothing of his diet. I hope it works for you.

Eileen: There are good fats and bad, all these have fat in them. My understanding is that they're the good ones. If someone subscribes to the idea that all fat is bad, then these may not be for them.