We have all be fooled “again”..
Just when you think we are doing something good for our bodies we learn that we have been conned.
This has led to today's case of the Canola Con!
How many people use canola oil for cooking?
How many people choose mayonnaise, salad dressings, baked goods, and other processed foods containing canola oil?
I would say a bunch!
In addition, the major fast food chains brag that they no longer have trans fats, but have switched to canola oil. They use it for their french fries, burgers, salad dressings and baked goods, exchanging it for trans fatty acid-laden genetically engineered soybean oil.
Would I eat it? No.
I remember a few months ago scratching my head trying to figure out why some of my patients had high levels of trans fats (or trans fatty acids) showing up on their fatty acid profile blood test.





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​Of course these patients swore they were not eating foods that had trans fats. So with some detective work and a little deeper investigation, I discovered that these same patients were in fact using canola oil.
From their perspective they were told that canola oil was supposed to be healthier than soy, cottonseed, safflower and corn oil.
I tended to agree with them until I discovered some interesting facts that many folks were not aware of.
First and foremost you need to remember that canola oil is a genetically engineered product. This raised some red flags and made me very suspicious.
Have you ever seen a canola plant?
Of course not!
Believe it or not, from a molecular biochemical position canola oil actually has higher levels of trans fatty acids than the soybean and the other vegetable oils I mentioned above.
So you may be thinking, why are there more trans fatty acids in canola oil than in soybean oil and the other toxic oils?
The reason is because canola oil has a higher level of omega-3 oils. So in order to make that bottle last on a shelf, plus be able to withstand high heat cooking, you need over a dozen chemical stages to process canola into an oil that will not go rancid. These processes include not only hydrogenation but deodorization of the omega-3. This process can form as much as 40% trans fatty acids in canola, even more than soybean oil.
The following have been directly attributed to the canola con:

• Canola depletes vitamin E which will impact chronic diseases like heart, cancer, Alzheimer's, and diabetes.
• Canola increases the rigidity of membranes (which is a major aging factor and trigger for degenerative diseases like diabetes).
• Canola has the potential to damage hearts creating fibrosis impairing the action of vitamin E (crucial in inflammation).
• In human studies there was an increase in lung cancers as well as heart damage.
• Canola has been found to shorten the lifespan of animals and in others it lowers the platelet count and increases the size of the platelet cells.
• Daily canola oil raised the triglycerides a staggering 47%.

Interesting fact: In 1985 the Federal Register (official journal of the federal government of the United States) stated the FDA outlawed canola oil in infant formulas because it retarded growth.
Can you believe they knew a quarter of a century ago that it was not good for babies, but now it's suddenly okay for everyone else.
What makes this frightening is the politics of the food industry are so powerful that this information will not come out for at least another couple of decades.
Why?
Well the regulatory agencies have also been duped and simply have NOT done their research.
They have been deceived into believing that canola is the next best oil.
Many have vested their legislative careers in the oil change making it darn near impossible to admit this fatal error and turn this problem around.
It simply is not going to happen anytime soon.
Remember it took decades before the dangers of trans fats were finally exposed.
Regulatory "authorities" have managed to ignore even the warnings of the Harvard School of Public Health that stated decades ago that there is no safe level of trans fats.
Here is a shocker you may not know.
In spite of the enormous proof of the dangers of trans fats (some of which were reported by Harvard researchers decades ago), the FDA has allowed food manufacturers to put the words 'NO TRANS FATS" to be plastered on any label if there are less than 500 mg of trans fats per puny ½ cup serving.
Again Harvard researchers showed ages ago that there is no safe level of trans fats, since trans fats have grossly changed the fundamental chemistry of our cell membranes.
The sad thing is many people think they are safe and knowledgeable in choosing canola oil, because they have fallen for the hype without finding out the facts for themselves. The bottom line is you don't want to ingest any food containing GMO canola oil or hydrogenated vegetable oils (soy, cottonseed, safflower and corn).
Butter, grape seed oil, olive oil (preferably cold-pressed, unfiltered, extra virgin) are great for cooking and for salad dressings. It goes without saying any oil in dark glass is preferred over plastic as well.


​by: Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.
References:
Calabrese C., et al, A cross-over study of the effect of a single oral feeding of medium chain triglyceride oil vs. canola oil on post-indigestion plasma triglyceride levels in healthy men, Altern Med Rev 4; 1:23-28, 1999
Enig M, Know Your Fats (Bethesda Press, 2000), The Oiling of America, also website: westonaprice.org/know your fats/canola
Innis SM, et al, Dietary canola oil alters hematological indices and blood lipids in neonatal piglets fed formula, J Nutr 129:1261-68, 1999
Sauer FD. et al. Additional vitamin E required in milk replacer diets that contain canola oil, Nutr Res 17; 2:259-69, 1997
Kwon JS, et al, Effects of diets high in saturated fatty acids, canola oil, or safflower oil on platelet function, thromboxane B2 formation and fatty acid composition of platelet phospholipids, Am J Clin Nutr, 54:351-58, 1991
MacDonald BE, et al, Comparison of the effects of canola oil and sunflower oil on plasma lipids and lipoproteins and on in vivo thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin production in healthy young men, Am J Clin Nutr 50:382-88, 1989
Rogers, Sherry. Total Wellness. Prestige Publishing
Duque-Guimaraes DE, et al, Early and prolonged intake of partially hydrogenated fat alters the expression of genes in rat adipose tissue, Nutr: 782-9, 2009

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find practitioners thoroughly trained in functional medicine.

​ Ronald J. Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., M.S.

​If you are one of the 33 million people suffering with a sinus infection, then this special report will be of great interest. Not a day goes by in my office that I don't see a patient who is complaining of a runny nose, facial pain, "sinus" headache, you know the pain...it is simply just "miserable". This report is a brief summary of a patient I treated with chronic sinusitis. The patient's name is Marilyn. Marilyn is a 38 year old mother of two who happens to work as a part-time legal secretary for a prominent personal injury law firm. Marilyn's sinus problems go back over four years. She was first seen by her primary medical physician, then referred to an allergist, then referred to an internist and actually consulted with a chiropractor hoping just maybe chiropractic adjustments would rid her of her chronic sinus suffering. Needless to say, Marilyn's problem did not improve. If anything, she got worse (excuse the English slang). As typical for many sinus suffers, Marilyn was prescribed clarithromycin, an antibiotics, pseudoephedrine and phenylpropanolamine, both oral decongestants, phenylephrine hydrochloride, a nasal spray decongestant, anti-histamines, and finally a short course of steroids.. Nothing worked "long term". Marilyn was, to say the least, extremely frustrated and to be quite honest very reluctant to see me. She figured after four years of trying "the best that medicine has to offer", that she would simply have to settle for the fact that sinus pain will be a permanent part of her life. On Marilyn's first visit, I could sense that she had "mixed" feelings being in my office. On one hand, she was "fed up" having to go day after day with a runny nose and all the terrible symptoms and on the other hand, she pretty much was resigned to "make due" with her present circumstances.. Overall, deep down, Marilyn was really hoping I could help, but on the surface, I could tell she was not expecting anything much more in the way of relief. Prior to seeing Marilyn, as with all patients, I requested a copy of all her medical records and saw that she had been seen by three different physicians. As is noted above, Marilyn was prescribed various medications and also told to avoid cat dander, pollen, dust and a number of common trees. Obviously, the impossible was asked of her. If only she was living in a "bubble" just maybe she could avoid such things. (Sorry for my sarcasm). As Marilyn "poured" her heart out, she explained how disappointed she was having to go year after year with these symptoms. She kept telling me that she realized that there were people with worse problems then hers and felt silly being in my office. I re-assured her that her problem... although not life-threatening deserved the same attention as any other condition. I further explained that any condition that interferes with your life and your ability to be productive, is worthy of my or any physician's time. After carefully reviewing Marilyn's case, I decided to order an IgG Food Sensitivity Assay and an Airborne IgE Assay. Let me explain.... Marilyn was tested approximately 2 years ago by an allergist using the traditional "skin prick or scratch test". This test will only detect an IgE reaction, meaning an "immediate" reaction and is commonly referred to as Type I immune reaction. An IgG Food Sensitivity Assay is commonly referred to as a Type 3 Delayed-Onset Immune Reaction.. The IgG Food Allergy Test and the IgE Airborne Test both required "one" vial of blood and were sent off to Immuno Labs. The turn-around time is usually 10 working days. When I received the results, I was surprised to discover that Marilyn's IgG food allergy test DID NOT reveal any allergic reactions to a specific food, however, what was discovered on her IgE airborne allergy test was to be the "answer" to her four year battle with sinusitis. As mentioned a few moments ago, Marilyn was tested using the traditional skin prick method for an IgE allergen and found to be reactive to cat dander, pollen and specific tree. When I reviewed the results of the test I ordered, Marilyn was indeed reactive to cat dander and weed pollen, however, one allergen was totally overlooked and was "off the charts".. Allergic reactions are graded 0, +1, +2, +3, +4 with 0 indicating no reaction and +4 indicating a severe reaction. Her test revealed a +4 Alternaria reaction. Let me quote a few lines from the Mayo Clinic article written by Ronald Lawrence M.D. Mayo Clinic Findings on Sinus Infections New research reveals that more than 90% of sinus problems are caused by an immune system response to a common fungus. Recently, the Mayo Clinic study confirmed the findings of additional studies indicating that fungi cause may cause many types of sinus problems. The airborne mold Alternaria is a common cause of fungal sinusitis. The study revealed that both Aspergillus and Alternaria not only interfere with the nerve impulses in your nasal passages but also take up lodging there, paving the way for a full-blown infection. The presence of both molds accelerate redness and swelling. Unfortunately, antibiotics and decongestants can actually worsen the condition by allowing the fungus to thrive. Antibiotics were designed to eliminate bacteria, not fungi. Decongestants are incapable of stopping the spread of fungi in the sinuses Wow! Isn't that interesting? I remember reviewing the results with Marilyn and going over all the medical abstracts supporting the relationship between chronic sinusitis and fungal infections. Marilyn looked at me with a "blank" stare and asked "why didn't the three doctors she saw over the last four years ever check her for fungal infections?" I reassured her that her doctors were doing what they had been trained to do and in no way wanted her to suffer over these last four years. Based on this new information, the following were the "exact" treatments I recommended: a) I personally called her primary physician and reviewed Marilyn's findings and asked if he would prescribe an anti-fungal medication. Of course, he was reluctant at first. However, after he reviewed the medical support documentation (see below), he was willing to do a trial of Fluconazole. b) I recommended following the Fluconazole with a natural anti-microbial product for two weeks. c) I had Marilyn do a thorough check of her home and see if she could find any mold build-up (which she did on her bedroom window baseboard) d) I suggested that Marilyn purchase a "micro" hepa filter to use in her bedroom. Marilyn's Results: One week following her first prescription with Fluconazole, Marilyn was 50% better. Three weeks after starting the natural anti-microbial and purchasing a "micro" hepa filter, Marilyn admitted to feeling 90% better. Just recently, I spoke to Marilyn and she has not had problem with her sinuses for over three months. She was ecstatic and couldn't contain her enthusiasm..Matter of fact, her physician expressed an interest in learning more about functional medicine and wanted to have lunch with me. Dr. Grisanti's Comments: I am glad to see that Marilyn has done so well and that we finally found the reason for her chronic sinus problems. I want to be certain that everyone reading this DOES NOT phone their doctor and ask for a prescription for Fluconazole or any other anti-fungal medication. Although it is entirely possible that you just might be suffering with an Alternaria fungal infection, I wouldn't attempt to self-treat. You see, I see many patients with different health challenges and understand that their is NO "one treatment fits all" solution to the array of health conditions. You have heard me say that "I treat the patient not the condition." Unlike the drug ads on television or any major magazine that promote a drug for XYZ disease, my approach is very logical. I look for the underlying "cause(s)" of a patients problem. Remember this... and remember it well..I can have three patients suffering with sinus problems and each one of these patients may have a different reason for their sinus condition. One may be suffering with an Alternaria fungal infection, another from a food allergy and yet another from poor detoxification function (yes I did say detoxification). Each of these patients would require completely different treatments. Ask yourself this question: What would happen if I treat the patient suffering with a food allergyrelated sinus problem with an anti-fungal medication? Yes, you are right ... nothing.. the patient would simply not improve... Remember, find the cause, match it with the correct treatment and many times the patient experiences an amazing improvement. Please understand that finding the cause(s) of a patient's health challenge is not always simple but is worthy doing your due diligence to be uncovered. Remember, if you suffer with sinus problems or any health challenge, I want to challenge you to see if your physician is looking for the cause or simply "masking" the symptoms with the most popular advertised drug on the market. Think about it. Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., M.S., is medical director of Functional Medicine University. If interested in improving your diagnostic skills and increasing your community reputation and recognition, we strongly recommend subscribing to our Free Clinical Rounds Series. These challenging case studies will give you the unique opportunity to test your clinical skills and, at the same time, improve your ability to handle many of the most difficult cases. Go to the following link to get your free access: www.Clinical-Rounds.com. REFERENCES: Cody DT 2nd, McCaffrey TV, Roberts G, Kern EB. Effects of Aspergillus fumigatus and Alternaria alternata on human ciliated epithelium in vitro. Laryngoscope. 1997 Nov;107(11 Pt 1):1511-4. Cody DT 2nd, Neel HB 3rd, Ferreiro JA, Roberts GD. Allergic fungal sinusitis: the Mayo Clinic experience. Laryngoscope. 1994 Sep;104(9):1074-9. Vennewald I, Henker M, Klemm E, Seebacher C. Fungal colonization of the paranasal sinuses. Mycoses. 1999;42 (Suppl 2):33-6. Andes D, Proctor R, Bush RK, Pasic TR Report of successful prolonged antifungal therapy for refractory allergic fungal sinusitis. Clin Infect Dis. 2000 Jul;31(1):202-4. Karpovich-Tate N, Dewey FM, Smith EJ, Lund VJ, Gurr PA, Gurr SJ. Detection of fungi in sinus fluid of patients with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. Acta Otolaryngol. 2000 Mar;120(2):296-302. Catten MD, Murr AH, Goldstein JA, Mhatre AN, Lalwani AK. Detection of fungi in the nasal mucosa using polymerase chain reaction. Laryngoscope. 2001 Mar;111(3):399-403.