[The Lizard of Oz]

(04-16-2015 12:47 AM)BallsDeep Wrote:  

hey Lizard of Oz,

can you chime in on your top 5 or so must-have supplements that you think guys should take?

It depends somewhat on the guy but here are my favorites:

1. Udo's Oil OR Eskimo-3 fish oil -- choose one. For Udo's, aim at 1 tablespoon per 50lbs body weight per day, or a little more; for Eskimo-3, 1 teaspoon a day with food.

2. Source Naturals D-3 AND/OR Thorne Research D-3, you can also mix them up. I'd aim for a total of 2,000-3,000 IUs per day, with food, ideally relatively fatty food.

3. Thorne Research Magnesium Citrate, take 1 before sleep.

4. Source Naturals OptiZinc, take one a day, more on special occasions if you're planning to shoot some particularly long and thick loads into a worthwhile hole.

5. Now Foods Bromelain. Take a couple a day with your main meal, especially with red meat -- really helps the digestion of meat.

Of these five I think the only really essential ones are an Essential Fatty Acid supplement (Udo's or Eskimo-3) and D-3. The others are more optional.

In addition, for guys with any kind of digestive or bowel problems, I would strongly recommend this probiotic:

VSL#3

It's pricey, but it's by far the best probiotic out there and does wonders for your colon health, prevents things like diverticulosis and diverticulitis, IBS, can cure serious conditions like ulcerative colitis, probably significantly reduces the odds of getting colon cancer down the line. If you already have any of these conditions like IBS or diverticulosis you can get it prescribed by a doc. Take 1 packet a day dissolved in something like yogurt, juice or water, early in the day probably best. Keep refrigerated at all times.

[The Lizard of Oz]

(04-17-2015 02:35 AM)Brian Shima Wrote:  

What if a guy never gains an acquired taste for Udos. Would one tablespoon per day be sufficient?

Have no fear -- you'll come to love it and crave it like a man craves young pussy.

You also don't need to drink it straight up -- mix it in yogurt, salads or juices. You can get used to the taste easier if it's somewhat hidden and mixed with other tastes. I love it straight from the bottle, but I don't have a depraved diet like some of y'all.

1 tablespoon a day is not really enough, no. You really need like 3-4 to get the full benefits, but you can build up to that.

[kosko]

3-6-9 oil is all the same if of good quality. Don't belive brand hype which is rampant in the nutrition industry. Just make sure to read the source of the oils is good and it has no filler. NOW Foods is a solid brand which generally sells items cheaper. The Oil ratios are the same between the two brands, NOW has much more GLA, that is the only difference.

Oil is oil. If it's sourced well and organic there is no difference.

[BallsDeep]

Udo's oil is $27-30 for the 17 oz bottle.

NOW's is $10 for the same size.

Quite a difference in price. But Lizard makes an excellent point, that since there is NO regulation in the supplement industry, brand name is really the only thing you can go by.

There must be some difference between the two oils though, since Lizard and others say this oil is at least palatable, while the reviews of NOW's state that downing it can be difficult.

[The Lizard of Oz]

kosko, can't agree with you there.

In my experience, there is a lot of variation in quality and it would be strange if this were not the case -- oils and fats are some of the most volatile compounds in nature, and even small differences in the ingredient balance, and particularly in the pressing and extraction process will make a disproportionate difference in both quality and taste. There is a reason elite chefs go to great lengths to source some exorbitantly expensive extra virgin olive oils, and espresso fanatics go to great lengths to control every step in the blending, roasting and extraction processes (coffee is basically also volatile fats).

I've been taking Udo's Oil for over a decade, and while the quality and taste have remained spectacular, and spectacularly consistent, over this entire period, I still notice differences even from batch to batch; sometimes it tastes more strongly nutty, there was a period where it was tasting more sunflowery (still good, but I like that less). The thickness and viscosity vary a bit. Really, no two bottles of oil are exactly the same. But Udo's almost always tastes great to me, and while I haven't tasted the NOW oil, for example, I've heard that few people feel that way about it.

I agree that NOW Foods is a decent brand, and I don't doubt that their 3-6-9 is OK and likely provides some benefit. But there is no doubt that Udo is the world's foremost expert on fats and oils, and I trust him to have chosen the optimal ingredients (the exact blend of plant oils differs between Udo's and the NOW oil, with some overlap), and especially to make sure that the oil is fresh pressed and extracted under optimal conditions that minimize oxidation and keep the oil as stable as possible. Basically, light, heat, and oxygen are all deadly to volatile fats -- you have to take a great deal of care to keep them out to make sure that the fats remain fresh and unoxidated. Udo's and Flora have a great track record of doing that going back many years now, and I would trust their expertise in this very delicate process more than that of any other brand, by far.

[fortysix]

Alright guys, so I ordered that Udo from amazon - I'm hoping the transport won't spoil any of the contents!

Just wanted to mention: I've been taking fish oil and flax seed oil pretty much every single day since I've been 14 years old, (27 now). It cleared up my acne back then, and every time I stopped taking fish oil, the acne came back - so I KNOW it works. Ive gone through many brands, but aside from the skin benefits, I can't say Ive noticed any other serious benefits. However, ive been taking it for so long that I can't really tell. I want to see what difference Udo will make - I'm really looking forward to something which can help me in the gym, and also help grease my brain a bit to be more productive @ work.

Thanks for the recommend.

[The Lizard of Oz]

se7en, glad to hear that and enjoy the Udo's.

One thing to note: supplements, even the best ones like Udo's, are just what the name implies -- they can supplement a good lifestyle very effectively, but they cannot replace it. If your sleep/diet/exercise/etc daily habits are seriously off, supplements can only be of limited use; if you've got all those things lined up, that is where supplements really come into their own and take you to the next level. You really need that synergy, otherwise you cannot expect too much from supplementation alone.

If you're interested, check out this thread where I put together a little summary of what I think are some good day to day practices for better sleep and better health. These things are really the base, and superior supplementation can be used to build on top of that base. That's how you get the whole virtuous circle going.

http://www.rooshvforum.network/thread-46677.html

[Duke Castile]

What about this version called "7 sources" that has DHA and EPA?

[The Lizard of Oz]

(04-18-2015 05:41 PM)Fisto Wrote:  

What about this version called "7 sources" that has DHA and EPA?

I haven't tried it but seems to me like too much of a good thing. The original Udo's oil is basically a perfect product and I wouldn't mess with it. But people always ask for more and it usually ends up not as good as the original.

In any case, fish oil is the best source of DHA and EPA, so if you are interested in those, then this is your boy:

Eskimo-3 Fish Oil

[Oz.]

Let me go ahead and ask about this here, I consume very little dairy and almost no milk I also know that what I eat does not contain enough calcium, should I supplement? If so I was looking at some calcium supplements online and they all contain magnesium, why is this and what is magnesium even for?

[fortysix]

Just got my bottle of UDOs - had my first tablespoon a few minutes ago. Mixed it with some almond milk as I currently have nothing else around the house. The only thing is that the bottle makes it a bit difficult to pour, got a bit of spillage, other than that, glad to be in on this.

[Magnesium Chloride]

Just curious.

Why would you want a fat that most people already get too much of when eating vegetable oil, is pro inflammatory and causes a lot of problems due to that(omega 6), and a fat that your body makes all it needs(omega 9) when you can just have a regular fish/krill oil omega 3 supp?

[Menace]

3-4 tablespoons is about 300-400 extra calories just from this. Is this really advisable?

[The Lizard of Oz]

(04-23-2015 12:49 AM)Magnesium Chloride Wrote:  

Just curious.

Why would you want a fat that most people already get too much of when eating vegetable oil, is pro inflammatory and causes a lot of problems due to that(omega 6), and a fat that your body makes all it needs(omega 9) when you can just have a regular fish/krill oil omega 3 supp?

Udo's gives you the optimal 2:1:1 ratio of omega3/omega6/omega9 fats. You do need all of them in your diet. It's designed to be a single product that you can go to to get all your good fats in the right proportion.

Now it's true that if the rest of your diet outside Udo's basically consists of bad fats, then the overall blend will not be optimal. But that's not the idea; the idea is that the rest of your diet is pretty good as well. Keep in mind that Udo's contains a fair amount of calories and is quite sating, so if you consume enough of it you will very likely consume fewer calories from other sources, and in particular somewhat fewer fats from other sources (though not none).

In addition, Udo's really changes your taste in fats over time; take it for long enough, and you will find bad low quality fats really hard to stomach, in every sense of the word. It also works the other way, as the OP and some posts in this thread can attest to -- guys who are used to junk diets full of bad fats find something like Udo's hard to abide at first. Part of the goal is to change the whole composition of your fat intake and move you towards consuming very high quality fats in the right ratio, and that is what Udo's is optimized to do.

(04-23-2015 08:53 AM)Menace Wrote:  

3-4 tablespoons is about 300-400 extra calories just from this. Is this really advisable?

Sure -- the fact that it's a great source of calories is an advantage, I think. It's quite filling and it means you will eat less of something else (and the something else is almost guaranteed to be of lower quality). So they're not really "extra" calories.

In my experience, people who are overweight and get on Udo's tend to lose weight (especially women, I should say). But they often don't try because they see all the calories and get scared; they don't realize that it will make them consume fewer calories from other sources, and probably fewer overall.

[tarquin]

I bought the smallest bottle and I've been having two tablespoons a day. I had a bad time with Fish Oil, but this hasn't affected me one way or the other so far. I've only been doing this for three days, however. So far no negative consequences which is more immediately important to me. I will slowly increase consumption to see if this has a positive effect. Additionally, I've switched away from drinking milk in favor of heavy cream.

[MMX2010]

Menace, I'm also just starting Udo's and am only on my third day of taking it. I take around 3 tablespoons a day, and haven't noticed any immediate negative effects. I'll keep you updated at the end of the month, especially with regard to weight loss / weight gain.

I do Convict Conditioning exercises every other day, instead of the twice-a-week recommendation that the book gives, and I'm very curious whether Udo's will smooth out my minor joint issues - (left elbow, left knee).

[Brian Shima]

Beware of hippy, spiritual types. I had one try to argue with me about Udo's and claim that it was nonsense since she had never heard of it LOL. Meanwhile she is taking 10 pills a day for her health. I'm sure her heart and liver is loving that.

[redbeard]

Does anyone order Udo's online?

How do they manage to keep the oil refrigerated during transportation?

[BIGINJAPAN]

http://chriskresser.com/why-fish-stomps-...f-omega-3/

I think everyone should take a look at this quick article. also provides links to the studies.

the synopsis is simple. Oil derived from plants is not the same as fish oil. the body can barely convert flaxseed omega 3 to EPA or DHA. These are considered to have the massive benefits and disease prevention you are looking for.

If you are going to substitute omega's in your diet, fish oil is the clear winner. Now as many have mentioned above some manufacturers are better than others. What you need to look for is the amount of EPA and DHA in the bottle and also the level of astaxanthin.

astaxanthin being present in the bottle means that the fish oil has not been oxidized. A lot of Fish oil is garbage because it has been exposed to the air. By consuming it you will more likely begin to clog your arteries. So dont be buying the cheap costco brand.

[The Lizard of Oz]

(11-23-2015 09:42 PM)redbeard Wrote:  

Does anyone order Udo's online?

How do they manage to keep the oil refrigerated during transportation?

I've never ordered it online, but it wouldn't really be necessary to keep it chilled during transportation. As long as the bottle is unopened, the oil will maintain well at room temperatures for quite a while. Of course, shipping it chilled would be even better, but it's certainly not required.

(11-24-2015 06:46 PM)BIGINJAPAN Wrote:  

http://chriskresser.com/why-fish-stomps-...f-omega-3/

I think everyone should take a look at this quick article. also provides links to the studies.

the synopsis is simple. Oil derived from plants is not the same as fish oil. the body can barely convert flaxseed omega 3 to EPA or DHA. These are considered to have the massive benefits and disease prevention you are looking for.

If you are going to substitute omega's in your diet, fish oil is the clear winner. Now as many have mentioned above some manufacturers are better than others. What you need to look for is the amount of EPA and DHA in the bottle and also the level of astaxanthin.

astaxanthin being present in the bottle means that the fish oil has not been oxidized. A lot of Fish oil is garbage because it has been exposed to the air. By consuming it you will more likely begin to clog your arteries. So dont be buying the cheap costco brand.

This is not accurate. It's a complex subject and there is a great deal to be said about it, but the truth is that there are some ways in which a great fish oil is superior, and there are other ways in which a superb plant oil (like Udo's) is superior. Fish oil is almost certainly more effective for cardiovascular health; and a formulation like Udo's is more readily available to support the brain, the skin, and joints and muscles. Both have great virtues, but it would be wrong to say that fish oil is simply better.

In addition it should be noted that it's hard to find a truly great fish oil. Eskimo-3 was one, but unfortunately they went out of business not long ago, and I'm still searching for an adequate replacement. High quality and freshness are absolutely crucial in a fish oil, otherwise it rapidly becomes rancid and is worse than useless. If I find a superior fish oil to replace Eskimo-3 I'll be sure to post about it.

[RawGod]

Just eat fish. I eat either salmon or canned sardines every day.

[BIGINJAPAN]

Well in my opinion the number 1 reason for taking fish oil is to reduce inflammation in the body. By all accounts inflammation is the biggest problem the human body faces. It leads to everything from cancer, joint pain, brain disorders and even weight gain.

EPA and DHA are the main fatty acids that fight inflammation. I dont see how you can claim that Udo's does a better job with joint pain, muscles repair and brain support when it doesnt have the number 1 fighter of inflammation EPA/DHA.

Udo's may have some positive affects on the body, especially if you lack Omega 3. But you will have far more positive benefits from fish oil. Guys like Ferriss, Asprey, Kresser, Mercola all recommend fish oil over flax oil. The guest they interview are all pretty much unanimously in agreement on this. I cant think of one guest who went the other way.

Krill oil is by and large the best form. Jarrow makes a pretty reliable product.

[The Lizard of Oz]

BIJ, here is a good explanation from Udo Erasmus himself, one of -- if not the -- world's foremost experts on fats and oils:

Quote:

Why is there no EPA and DHA in your oil blend?

The oil blend builds the foundation for essential fat nutrition. essential fatty acids are major nutrients and we need quite a lot of them. They serve functions in our membranes and our cells in addition to their roles as EPA, DHA and other derivatives, and prostaglandins.

If given enough of the starting material (omega-6 LA and omega-3 LNA), the body can usually convert essential fatty acids into the derivatives and prostaglandins, but cannot convert prostaglandins and derivatives back into essential fatty acids again. Therefore, the essential fat-rich oils are an important function in this regard.

I recommend that one first lays down a proper foundation. Then, if there remains specific problems (such as premenstrual syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis) that are not addressed by an optimum intake of essential fat-rich, properly balanced, organically grown, freshly made, properly packaged, and properly used oils, add EPA and DHA to this foundation.

I prefer toro (belly) sushi from albacore (white) tuna as my source of EPA and DHA. Salmon, mackerel, sardines, and rainbow trout are other good sources. You may find further benefits from eating such fish. Most people will not need them, but they may help a small percentage of the population.

I prefer eating fish to swallowing fish oil capsules because of the processing damage that occurs in fish oils. Fish oils are very difficult to work with. The "fishy" flavor of encapsulated oils or cod liver oil is actually rancidity. Fresh fish does not have this taste or smell. I also have concerns about fish liver oils. They are most likely to contain (and concentrate) highly toxic industrial chemicals such as PCBs.

In other words:

1. Udo's oil gives you a very generous helping of essential fatty acids (EFAs) in the optimal proportion. EFAs have roles in the organism above and beyond the production of their derivatives. Of course the derivatives are also important, but the EFAs give you a great foundation.

2. Fresh fish, particularly raw fatty fish, are in many ways superior to fish oils. Fish oils are very tricky and very difficult to stabilize; and when they oxidize and go rancid they become harmful, rather than helpful. It is not easy to consistently produce a fish oil of very high quality -- whereas Udo's is a product that has maintained remarkable consistency for many years.

All this is not to deny that a great fish oil can be an extremely valuable supplement; but the idea that it is unambiguously superior to an optimized plant oil blend like Udo's is not justified.

Here is another good read by Udo for those who are interested:

http://udoerasmus.com/articles/udo/good-...enough.htm

************

The bottom line is that guys will have to experiment for themselves and observe over time which of these EFA supplements give them the greatest benefits. Studies alone will never provide definitive answers, especially for effects like mood elevation and skin health which they are usually not attempting to measure.

[BackFromTheBrink]

Any advice on when it is best to consume the oil?

[The Lizard of Oz]

(01-03-2016 11:56 AM)BackFromTheBrink Wrote:  

Any advice on when it is best to consume the oil?

It really doesn't matter too much, you can consume it anytime during the day. I wouldn't have it very late or close to bedtime, but then I wouldn't particularly recommend having any food with a significant number of calories (and Udo's certainly qualifies) very late or close to bedtime. Generally, I would suggest consuming more of it in the first half of the day.

I mix it in with my yogurt for breakfast and that works well for me. But there is no problem with having it in your juice or salad at lunchtime. And if you like you can spread your daily intake over a number of portions.

One thing to note is that certain supplements and nutrients are much better absorbed if they are taken together with fatty foods. Right now, vitamin D is basically the only pill supplement I take, and its absorption is significantly enhanced by fatty foods:

http://www.medicaldaily.com/vitamin-d-be...nts-311248

So I take my D-3 at the same time as I have my whole milk yogurt and Udo's. That's just another consideration.