Interview with Gerda Endemann
by Jamie Hale
Gerda Endemann, Ph.D., is the author Fat Is Not The Enemy: A Scientist's Approach to Separating Myth from Reality in our Quest for Good Health. She has conducted research on heart disease, fat metabolism, and cancer for more than 20 years. Endemann has contributed to numerous scientific journals.
Your website is titled HealthyFat. What is Healthy Fat?
I'm referring to fats in nuts, seeds, mayonnaise, oils, fish, avocado, etc., that are good for you. There is so much prejudice against fat that we aren't even taught that we would die if we didn't eat some of these healthy fats that are essential nutrients. And as an added benefit, they lower your blood cholesterol.
How are your Nutrition Consultations different than the run-of- the mill consultations?
I look at your diet and medical records and come up with a comprehensive plan tailored to your individual needs that will provide the nutrients you need for optimal health. But I also love to eat, and try to help clients come up with tasty recipes and foods that they really enjoy and that work for them.
My in person consultations are in the SF Bay Area, and I use Skype for long distance clients.
Why are so many people convinced they need anti-oxidants? What are some good food sources containing anti-oxidants? What happens when excessive amounts of anti-oxidants are ingested?
People who get lots of antioxidants by eating fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds tend to be pretty healthy overall. What should you do with this knowledge? Eat antioxidant pills or worry about specific antioxidants? No, you should emulate the behavior that works: eat whatever kinds of fruits and vegetables you enjoy, snack on nuts, and use oil-based salad dressing instead of low-calorie versions. In controlled studies, antioxidant pills such as beta-carotene and vitamin E sometimes results in harm to the subjects.
What are your current research interests?
I'm not doing laboratory research these days, but I am keeping up with scientific research in nutrition so that I can best educate my students and clients. I like it when people give me suggestions for a topic they would like covered in my blog (http://healthyfat.blogspot.com/)-sometimes this points me in an interesting new direction to investigate.
Favorite nutrition book?
Two books I like that are about eating, but are not really about nutrition, are "The Way We Eat: Why Our Food Choices Matter" by Peter Singer, and "In Defense Of Food" by Michael Pollan. I don't come across good nutrition books very often- "Food Allergies and Food Intolerances" by Jonathan Brostoff really stands out.
Any books or interesting projects in the works?
I'm working on a book that will take people day by day through a week of healthy shopping, cooking, and eating, so that they can see how easy and pleasurable it can be. And I'm updating my website, so be sure to check it out in December (http://www.healthyfat.com).
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