276: Rachel Tomkinson: How Saturated Fats Saved My Baby Jenna

Written on August 3, 2009

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Hello and welcome back to The Livin’ La Vida Low-Carb Show with Jimmy Moore!

Today Jimmy shares his conversation with New Zealand-based author and health professional, Rachel Tomkinson. Rachel wrote a book called Jenna’s Journey about her baby daughter’s health struggles due to her supposedly “healthy” low-fat, vegetarian diet.

In this interview, though, you’ll hear Rachel explain how truly healthy saturated fats helped little Jenna overcome her horrific eczema (see the picture above!) and begin to thrive and develop as she should. Also covered in this discussion today are facts about Umami (the “savory” flavor), Vegemite, Glutamates and much, MUCH more!

LINKS MENTIONED IN EPISODE 276
- Rachel Tomkinson bio
- Better Bods, Better Health web site
- Jenna’s Journey book
- 3 News New Zealand story with video: “Mum believes ‘healthy food’ made baby sick”

Advocacy, children, Disease, Low-Carb Lifestyle, Physiology, saturated fat, Success Stories
6 Comments - Leave a comment!
  • Sue

    I haven’t listened to podcast yet but firstly I just wanted to comment that since when was a low-fat, vegetarian diet considered healthy for a baby or toddler.

  • Sue

    I just realised you were talking about the mother’s diet and baby had the eczema whilst being breast-feed.

  • http://www.livinlavidalowcarb.com/blog Jimmy Moore

    You got it, Sue! :)

  • JayCee

    What an awesome interview Jimmy. Wow ! Will be listening to it another 1000 times !

    I’m sure she will love Dr. James E. Carlsons book and vice versa. Isn’t it just amazing how so many clever people say exactly the same thing.

    Dr. Carlson once gave me an answer with regards to dietary cholesterol and why its good for you. He said I may quote him, and because Rachel mentioned and people may have some questions from a biochemistry point of view, I would like to share it.
    Here is what he said :
    “OK, so what are the benefits of adding cholesterol to the diet? It’s not only fascinating, it’ll blow your mind. When we eat cholesterol containing foods, the cholesterol in the food we consume actually binds to an enzyme called HMG CoA reductase and inhibits its function. This enzyme is what’s known as the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis. This means that once this enzyme does what it’s supposed to do, cholesterol will be made no matter what. By inhibiting the enzyme’s function, cholesterol cannot be made. So eating cholesterol actually inhibts its own production. But wait, it gets even better.

    The cholesterol in the foods we eat is what’s referred to as fat soluble, or lipophilic (or fat loving). Since cholesterol is lipophilic, it diffuses through not only the outer cell membrane, but the cell’s=2 0nucleus membrane and attaches the the DNA. Guess where it attaches to on the DNA? It attaches to the sites on DNA WHERE HMG Co A IS MADE!!!!! That’s right, so not only does the cholesterol in the food we eat attache and inhibit the function of the enzyme already present to make cholesterol; the cholesterol in the foods we eat also prevents the production of the enzymes needed to make itself. In biochemical speak, this is known as negative biofeedback.

    Eat more cholesterol, make less cholesterol. By the way, the only thing I’ve seen in eighteen years considerably raise the good cholesterol known as the HDL, is the consumption of more cholesterol. So EAT MORE CHOLESTEROL IT”S GOOD FOR YOU- I, we, need to get this message out to the world.”

  • http://controlcarb.com jackie eberstein

    Sue,

    A recent issue of the American Dietetic Association, the professional organization for dietitians, endorsed what they call a carefully planned vegetarian or vegan diet for everyone of all ages. This includes pregnant and breast-feeding women, infants, kids and everyone else.
    Perhaps this is their way to drum up business for RDs. How many people will be sure to get professional advice to do this correctly? Seems to me especially with pregnant, lactating women and infants this can have devastating effects.

    Jackie Eberstein, R.N.

  • http://www.jaskin.com James Morrisson

    Low fat vegetarian diets in itself isn’t a “cure” for eczema but a combination of natural remedies encompassing homeopathy, diet, green juice, omega 3 oils, herbal tonics, Dr. Miller’s tea, energized microwater and glyconutrients will go a long way.





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