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Should You Avoid Seed Oils From Your Diet?
There is a big controversial dilemma going around about seed oils right now - so, should you avoid them, or not?
Many people nowadays believe that seed oils are harmful to our health and we should skip them in our diets. On the other hand, some studies have shown that seed oils come with benefits. So, if you have heard both sides, you might find yourself at a crossroads when trying to decide whether to avoid them or not.
In this blog, we’ll take a deep dive into the history of seed oils, the way they’re manufactured, and how the refining process can be harmful to our health. Of course, I will also mention some healthy seed oil alternatives - after all, it is up to you to listen to your body and learn what suits you best! Because, as always, you are the captain of your health!
History Of Industrial Seed Oils
Industrial seed oils are processed oils extracted from the seeds of various plants. Some of the most popular ones are canola, sunflower, corn, and soybean oil, among others.
Typically, these industrial oils are neutral-flavored and are quite inexpensive, making them “ideal” for the kitchen. This is the reason why so many of them are found in pre-packaged and prepared foods.
However, you have to question just how much these industrial seed oils are safe for us. Surely, seed-extracted oil sounds innocent enough, but the history of their production might quickly change that perception.
Seed oils were introduced to the food industry in the early 1990s by businessmen Procter & Gamble. They were looking for cheaper alternatives to animal fat to create bar soap, and invested in cottonseed oil to continue their production. However, they wanted to expand this investment as much as possible since they quickly realized its potential.
Edward Kayser, a German chemist, caught word of this, and contacted Procter and Gamble, introducing them to a new chemical process that could turn liquid fat into solid. Conveniently, the two businessmen have been looking into this for the longest time, so they assembled a team of scientists who would take the time to experiment on the matter. It didn’t take long for them to produce a creamy substance out of cottonseed oil, closely resembling lard which was the most used cooking oil back in the day. The market caught on to this “first seed oil” and sold like crazy, marking a new era in the cooking world.
Naturally, cottonseed oil was just the beginning. After its explosive popularity, soybeans were introduced in the 1930s in the US, and by the 1950s, soybean oil became the most popular vegetable oil in the country. From that point on, vegetable oil consumption rose rapidly, and there were significant changes made in its production, particularly in the ratio of Omega-3 and Omega-6, as well as the massive inclusion of carbohydrates.
How Are Industrial Seed Oils Truly Made?
Given that seed oils come from vegetables, you’d think they’re the safest and healthiest choice. However, once you take a look at their production, your perception can drastically change.
Once the seeds are gathered, they are placed in extremely high temperatures as part of their sterilization. But during this process, the unsaturated fatty acids in the seeds oxidize, creating free radicals that are extremely bad for our health. Once extracted, the oils are deodorized to remove their rather unfavorable smell, but this also prompts the production of trans fats, which as we all know, can be quite harmful. If that’s not enough, even more chemicals are added in the final step to make the seed oils have a more desirable color when they finally hit the market.
Obviously, the overuse of chemicals beats the claim that vegetable oils are generally safe for you.
To get a bit more clarity of this, here are just a few things that harmful seed oils do to your body:
Imbalance Of Omega6/Omega 3
As previously mentioned, the ratio of Omega 6:3 fatty acids is rather important for our health. To keep it optimal, the ratio should be as low as possible. However, did you know that in some industrial seed oils, the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio is as high as 75:1? You don’t need me to tell you how bad this is!
Devoid Of Nutrients
Even though seed oils are extracted from plants, the production process causes them to lose all of their nutrients. Not only that, but the oxidization creates free radicals in their content which are known to cause health issues such as cancer, premature aging, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and so much more.
Promoting Inflammation
Remember the Omega ratio we talked about? Well, when it reaches a number as high as 75:1, it causes inflammation in your body, the root cause of nearly all diseases.
Seed Oil Alternatives
Given all of this information, the best solution is to avoid harmful seed oils altogether! Instead, replace them with healthier alternatives that are made without any chemical solvents or extra additives.
Here are just a few seed oil alternatives you should start using ASAP:
Olive Oil
Do you know why people who live on the Mediterranean usually are the healthiest and live the longest?
Aside from having near-perfect climate conditions, their long lifespan is all thanks to their diet, specifically the use of olive oil.
Olive oil is made by crushing and massaging olives to get the oil out of them, which is later filtered for impurities. In other words, there are no extreme temperatures or chemicals used in their production, making it perfectly safe for consumption.
Avocado Oil
Avocado Oil is another excellent seed oil alternative that has a neutral flavor, meaning it won’t alter the taste of your meals. You can easily cook with it, and even use it for sauteing and roasting veggies.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has shown promising results in the beauty world, but it’s also widely used for cooking sweet dishes and desserts. When you’re looking out for it, be sure to go for unrefined coconut oil (also called extra-virgin coconut oil) as it is safer and will give your dishes that coconutty flavor you love!
As you can see, seed oils can be particularly bad for our health, but luckily, their alternatives are here to the rescue. If you ask me, a good way to incorporate a seed oils list into your diet is by cutting back on processed foods and using them as an alternative for cooking. This way, you can enjoy the benefits but in reasonable amounts.
In any case, the final decision rests on you!
For more tips and advice, check out my blog page.
