This keeps coming up and I have to share this! Let’s talk vegetable oils. In case you didn’t know- vegetable oils are bad. Bad for your health and bad for the environment. First- these do not come from vegetables! These are oils that have been extracted from various seeds. The most common include rapeseed (canola oil), soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, and peanut. Unlike coconut oil or olive oil that can be extracted by pressing, these oils have to be extracted in very unnatural ways.
Cholesterol and saturated fat are essential to good health. Even now, despite the fact that heart disease, cancer and diabetes rise at an alarming rate while butter consumption is down, vegetable oil consumption is at an all time high. People are still believing the hype and buying this non-healthy food like product.
I have to share this just so you can see how these oils are made!
Step 1: Find some “canola seeds.” Oh wait, they don’t exist. Canola oil is actually made from a hybrid version of the rapeseed… most likely genetically modified and heavily treated with pesticides. (never a good thing)
Step 2: Heat the rapeseeds at unnaturally high temperatures so that they oxidize and are rancid before you ever buy them.
Step 3: Process with a petroleum solvent to extract the oils.
Step 4: Heat some more and add some acid to remove any nasty wax solids that formed during the first processing.
Step 5: Treat the oil with more chemicals to improve the color.
Step 6: Deodorize the oil to mask the horrific smell from the chemical processing.
Sounds like something you want to put in your body? And the sad truth is, this oil is in so many things like processed foods (cookies, crackers, breads,salad dressings etc) and can wreak havoc on your health.
Along with the continued myth about saturated fats and cholesterol, these oils are promoted as healthy because they contain monounsaturated fats and Omega 3 fatty acids. And that’s what advertisers focus on to draw you into the fake health claims. But it definitely doesn’t paint the whole picture..
Vegetable oils are bad because they contain very high levels of polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs). But did you know that the fat content of the human body is about 97% saturated and monounsaturated fat? Our body needs fat for rebuilding cells and hormone production.
These fats are highly unstable, they oxidize easily. Oxidized fats cause tons of inflammation and mutation in cells. This is liked to all sorts of health issues from heart disease, cancer, endometriosis, PCOS, gut issues etc..
Most vegetable oils come from genetically modified sources and that is never a good thing. So...what is safe to use? Traditional oils should be cold-pressed. Organic when possible (especially when dealing with animal fats as the fat is where toxins/pesticides are stored). Do the best you can, and try not to get overwhelmed. Being aware is the best tool you can have!
Here are the healthy oils:
Coconut oil, Grass-fed butter, Extra Virgin Olive oil, Avocado oil
Here are some oils to be used sparingly:
Walnut oil, Flaxseed oil, Macadamia nut oil
So to refrain here is a list of oils to avoid!
Canola oil, Corn oil, Soybean oil, "Vegetable"oil, Peanut oil, Sunflower oil, Safflower oil, Cottonseed oil, Grapeseed oil, Margarine, Shortening and any fake butter substitutes
The other issue is eating out….just be aware that most restaurants use vegetable oils because they are cheaper and don’t have any flavor. Something most people don’t notice is that they do have issues with these oils but because they are in so many foods, its become “normal” to feel that way. Once you remove them from your diet, i guarantee you will feel better!
In Gratitude!
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