We often receive the question from our readers: Should I add oil to my Absorb Plus shakes? What exactly are the benefits? Will it continue to be considered elementary?
Cold pressed oils are all compatible with the elemental diet, but look for one high in omega-3 for anti-inflammatory effects. Most of the fat we consume is in unusable form, which irritates our digestive system. But cold-pressed linseed oil is absorbed very quickly and even people with a pronounced “fat intolerance” have no problem with it. Sometimes people who cannot tolerate linseed oil can tolerate MCT oil instead, others find Udo’s oil the easiest to tolerate. Just give it a try and make sure you use a cold-pressed, healthy, anti-inflammatory oil.
Since the 1950s, most people in the West have suffered from severe deficiency Essential fatty acids (EFA)which leads to various problems in the body. However, regular consumption of linseed oil, fish oil or coconut oil (MCT) corrects this deficiency.
Linseed oil has a very mild, unobtrusive taste and is also ideal for salad dressings, for drizzling on overcooked vegetables or for stirring into dips, salsa or yogurt. Do not heat the oil or use it to deep fry foods as this destroys the essential fatty acids. You can safely supplement up to 8-10 tablespoons of linseed oil per day; a good maintenance dose is 2-4 tablespoons per day.
Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring also contain high levels of omega-3 and other “good fats” (EFA, GLA) that the body needs. So you can either eat the fish or take fish oil or cod liver oil as a supplement. The other big advantage is this Omega-3 is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent and fish oil has been used exclusively in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to induce remission in patients with Crohn’s disease (The New England Journal of Medicine, June 13, 1996).
Here you will find a selection of healthy oils that are not only useful for people with digestive diseases for ALL people. If your disease is active or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, Then you need large amounts of each of these beneficial oils. Remember that the cell membrane is 40% fat! Therefore, consume plenty of these healthy oils every day. They do not cause you to become fat (fatty tissue); Your body will use them for vital functions such as skin, hair, connective tissue, hormone pathways, etc.
We recommend adding Udo’s Choice Ultimate Oil blend (preferred) or organic, unrefined, cold-pressed flaxseed oil or MCT oil to your Absorb Plus shakes to increase the levels of omega-3 and “good fats” (essential fatty acids) in your body. Good fats are an essential part of a healthy diet and body, and adding Udo’s, MCT or flaxseed oil to Absorb Plus increases the number of calories per shake and make a tastier shake!
Absorb Plus does not contain oil for three reasons:
- Imix Nutrition wanted the product to work on people with complete fat intolerance.
- Cold pressed oil must always be refrigerated and stored in a dark container, otherwise the fat will denature and go rancid.
- Because different people can tolerate different amounts of fat (depending on the type and location of the condition and level of inflammation), Imix thought it best to give you the option to add the amount of fat that is right for you.
Since Absorb Plus contains no fat, you should definitely add Udo, MCT or linseed oil if possible (1 tsp – 1 tbsp per shake, depending on your tolerance. The more, the better!). Adding Udo’s oil and topping it with lots of ice also improves the taste. Some people also prefer mixing flavors because they feel it tastes better than a single flavor. For example 2 scoops of Chocolate Royale and 2 scoops of Mixed Berry.
Any further questions? Please comment below!
**Note: Many readers have written to us asking if they can add more than the recommended scoop amount to their shakes – and if there are any downsides to doing so. In my book, The IBD Remission Diet, I talk about why I formulated Absorb Plus to contain about 27 grams of protein per serving. I based this calculation on the protein intake of bodybuilders. Because if you consume more proteins than your body can use, it will excrete it through urine. Therefore, I recommend my readers not to consume more than 1 shake per hour for efficient protein utilization. If you want to “top up” your shakes, the healthy oils above are a great way to do it. And be sure to drink your shakes slowly to ensure maximum nutrient retention/utilization!
Jini Patel Thompson is an internationally recognized expert in natural healing for digestive diseases. She healed herself from widespread Crohn’s disease and has been medication and surgery free for over 25 years. Jini has appeared on numerous podcasts, TV and radio shows in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, giving people hope and vision on how to heal their colitis, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) using all-natural methods. Her books on natural healing of digestive diseases have been sold in over 80 countries worldwide. Jini is married and has three children, nine sheep, 11 horses, a cat and three dogs.
