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Mary G. Enig

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Dr Mary G. Enig (circa 2000).

Mary Gertrude Enig, Ph.D. (born 1931) is a nutritionist who researches the nutritional aspects of fats. She received a Ph.D in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park and has been a "Licensed Nutritionist" in Maryland since May 1988.

Enig is a Fellow of The American College of Nutrition, a member of The American Society for Nutritional Sciences, and President of the Maryland Nutritionists Association.

Professional History

Enig is the co-founder, Vice President and member of the Board of Directors of The Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF).

Prior to the founding of the WAPF in 1999, Enig was the director of the Nutritional Sciences Division of Enig Associates, Inc.

Position on saturated fats

Enig believes the many studies of saturated fat in the diet do not distinguish between saturated fat and trans fat. In addition, the fat found in all foods is a mixture of saturated, monounsaturated (olive oil), and polyunsaturated (canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil).

Dr. Enig also states that saturated fats are needed for the production of hormones, the stabilization of cellular membranes, the padding around organs, and for energy. Biochemical signalling processes involving G-protein, and other, receptors make extensive use of the lauric, myristic and palmitic fatty acids, since the receptors must be "coupled with lipids in order to provide localization of function". The palmitoylation and myristoylation processes make use of the palmitic and myristic fatty acids, respectively, for the purposes of stabilization. Myristic acid has been linked to proper immune system function and tumor suppression. A deficiency in the consumption of these, and other, saturated fatty acids can lead to "age-related declines in white blood cell function", along with dysfunction of the immune system, and even cancer. On the basis of extensive research conducted during the 1970s by Canadian scientists on rapeseed and canola oil, it was ultimately determined that at least 25% of fat in the diet should be in the form of saturated fat.

She believes that saturated fats have nutritional benefits. Lauric acid, a medium chain fatty acid, "has antimicrobial properties and is the precursor to monolaurin, the antimicrobial lipid". She also notes that lauric acid "gives human milk its major antimicrobial properties, and it may be a conditionally essential fatty acid since it cannot be made by mammals other than the lactating female and must be obtained from the diet."

She disputes the Lipid hypothesis which argues that consumption of saturated fats contribute to heart disease.

Dr. Enig has claimed that "big business" and other powerful vested interests played a significant role in the negative portrayals of saturated fats.

Coconut oil

Enig is a vocal advocate for dietary conwsumption of coconut oil.

References

  1. Maryland license verification - enter last name to obtain license status
  2. Weston A Price Foundation Board of Directors
  3. "The Importance of Saturated Fats for Biological Functions" Mary Enig, The Weston A. Price Foundation -2004
  4. Enig, Mary G. Know Your Fats, p.114
  5. Enig, Mary G. Know Your Fats, p.194
  6. "The Skinny on Fats" - Mary Enig and Sally Fallon, The Weston A. Price Foundation - undated
  7. "The Oiling of America" - Mary Enig and Sally Fallon, The Weston A. Price Foundation, 1999
  8. "A New Look at Coconut Oil" - Mary Enig, The Weston A. Price Foundation - undated
  9. "The Latest Studies on Coconut Oil" - Mary Enig, The Weston A. Price Foundation - undated
  10. "More Good News on Coconut Oil" - Mary Enig, The Weston A. Price Foundation - undated

Other articles by Mary Enig

Fats

Milk

Criticism of the Center for Science in the Public Interest

Selected bibliography

  • Dr Mary Enig, Know Your Fats: The Complete Primer for Understanding the Nutrition of Fats, Oils and Cholesterol, (Bethesda Press, May 2000). ISBN 0-96781-260-7, ISBN-13 978-0967812601.
  • Sally Fallon, with Dr Mary Enig (contributing editor), Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats, (NewTrends Publishing, October 1999). ISBN 0-96708-973-5, ISBN-13: 978-0967089737.
  • Dr Mary Enig, Trans fatty acids in the food supply: A comprehensive report covering 60 years of research, (Enig Associates, 1993).
  • Dr Mary Enig and Sally Fallon Eat fat, Lose fat: lose weight and feel great with three delicious, science-based coconut diets, Plume, ISBN 0-45228-566-6
  • Dr Enig has also written a chapter "Lauric Oils as Antimicrobial Agents: Theory of Effect, Scientific Rationale, and Dietary Application as Adjunct Nutritional Support for HIV-Infected Individuals" in Nutrients and Foods in AIDS (ed. Ronald R. Watson) CRC Press, London, ISBN 0-84938-561-X ISBN-13: 978-0849385612
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