Udo Erasmus

Udo Erasmus is a nutritionist, lecturer, and writer specializing in fats, oils, cholesterol, and essential fatty acids. He was born in Poland during the Second World War to parents from Latvia and Estonia. His family emigrated to Canada when he was ten years old. He began his university studies at the age of sixteen, and gained a B.Sc. in Zoology with a major in Psychology. This was followed by graduate studies in Biochemistry and Genetics at the University of British Columbia.

In 1980, Erasmus was poisoned by pesticides, and, as a result of the experience, began to research the relationship between nutrition and health. He gave special attention to the effects of fats and oils on human health. Erasmus had become intrigued by the fact that Eskimos consumed largely fats, such as whale blubber, yet remained relatively healthy well into later life. In his research he discovered what he considered "healthy fats", that is fats which were beneficial rather than harmful to health. His thesis for his Ph.D. in nutrition was published with the title Fats and Oils in 1986. It was revised and expanded under the new name, Fats That Heal Fats That Kill (1993).

Udo Erasmus has partnered with natural foods company Flora Inc., of Lynden, Washington and Burnaby, British Columbia to produce the essential fatty acid blend called Udo's Choice Oil Blend as well as a line of probiotics and nutritional supplements.