12 Steps to Whole Foods

Avoiding Bad Fats, Enjoying Good Fats
Even small amounts of olive oil have been found to kill helicobacter pylori—an antibiotic-resistant bacteria
that causes chronic inflammation, peptic ulcers, and gastric cancer—because it contains antimicrobial
properties.
Always use extra virgin olive oil, which comes from the first pressing of the olives, as it is unrefined and
highest in polyphenols. It is a longer-chain fatty acid, and while 2 Tbsp. daily has been studied as a good
amount to reduce heart disease risk, large amounts of this oil (more than 2 Tbsp. per meal) can lead to weight
gain. Instead of sautéing food in oil, a good idea is to dress vegetables or grains in olive oil immediately after
steaming them or sautéing them in vegetable broth. This preserves all the compounds discussed above that are
found in the raw oil.
You need no more than 1-2 Tbsp. of olive oil daily. And that’s instead of, not in addition to, the bad fats in
animal flesh and processed foods.
What Are the Best Oils for My Beauty Regimen?
I use pure coconut oil, the same virgin oil from my kitchen, every night on my face as a moisturizer, with
excellent anti-aging results. The skin absorbs the oil quickly, so you won’t have shiny skin with standing oil on
it. A nice benefit is that although coconut oil may be expensive compared to other refined oils you formerly
cooked with, it’s very inexpensive compared to commercially prepared facial treatments!
One night a week, work a couple tablespoons of warmed oil through
your hair and into the scalp. (Put the oil in a glass and set the glass in
hot tap water to warm it.) Wear a stocking cap to bed and wash your
hair in the morning. This practice makes hair silky and smooth, and
the cost of the treatment is very low compared to commercial oil
treatments that include emulsifying and preserving chemicals.
I also keep a small container of coconut oil close by to use as a lip
balm. By applying it to the skin, it is absorbed and utilized by the
body the same way as when you eat it. Applying it directly to the skin
has all the same benefits, as it is absorbed into the bloodstream, in
addition to the direct moisturizing effect on the skin, hair, and lips.
If you have dry skin, you may wish to put a tablespoon of coconut oil
in your bath water, to restore the antimicrobial oils that are a natural
barrier on your skin and that get washed off when showering or
bathing. In the shower, you can apply coconut oil (olive oil works
well, too) to the face and body after washing, then pat the skin dry
with a towel. Just keep a small container of oil in the shower and
bath.
© Copyright Robyn Openshaw 12 Steps to Whole Foods 101