Due to their inexpensiveness, industrial seed oil use has grown in the United States. Unfortunately, seed oils can cause inflammation and contribute to gut issues and other diseases. Unlike traditional oils, such as olive oil and coconut oil, these seed oils, such as canola oil, have not played much of a role in human history until recently (think the early 1900s). So, what's the deal with industrial seed oils, and should you really avoid them?
How Industrial Seed Oils Are Made
The production of vegetable oil involves removing oil from a plant component, such as seeds, at an incredibly high temperature. This can be done mechanically or chemically using a petroleum-based solvent and then the extracted oil is purified and deodorized with chemicals. Once this step is complete, the oil might be refined or chemically altered to improve taste and color.
Industrial Seed Oils to Avoid
Do your best to avoid the following industrial seed oils:
- Canola oil
- Safflower oil
- Corn oil
- Cottonseed oil
- Soybean oil
- Sunflower oil
- Peanut oil
Opt for extra virgin olive oil, butter, ghee, pastured lard, duck fat, or coconut oil instead, but do your research to ensure you're buying from a reputable company. Do not buy olive oil in a clear bottle, check out the harvest date and country of origin, make sure it reads 0 percentage trans fat, and also aim to purchase a bottle that has the California Olive Oil Council (COOC) seal.
Why Are Industrial Seed Oils Bad for Your Health?
Industrial seed oils are heavily processed (as you learned above). Here are some additional reasons avoiding them whenever possible is much better for your health:
- Raise your Omega-6-to-Omega-3 fatty acid ratio (a diet too high in Omega-6 fatty acids leads to inflammation in your body and chronic disease)
- Contain chemicals and harmful additives
- Made from genetically modified crops (like corn)
- Contain toxic byproducts from the heating process
- Effect us negatively on a biological level (humans have not processed these types of oils before evolutionary - we're unaware of the long-term effects)
How Do Industrial Seed Oils Contribute to Disease?
Industrial seed oil consumption has been linked to the following diseases:
- Autoimmune diseases
- Asthma
- Anxiety and depression
- Alzheimer's disease
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Gut issues, such as IBD and IBS
- Infertility
- Inflammation
How To Eat Healthier (While Steering Clear of 'Bad' Seed Oils)
While industrial seed oils are mainstream (and everywhere) you can still make healthy choices in the grocery store and out at your favorite local restaurant. Opt for high-quality olive oil, butter, and coconut oil instead. You can also ask restaurants what kind of oils they use and choose to eat at restaurants that don't use industrial seed oils.
If you're looking for more support, you can also get in touch with us here at Primal Balance Nutrition. We make meal prep easy on you! You never have to worry about industrial seed oils with us. We cook all our food with extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, source all our ingredients locally and organically, and offer food quality transparency.
We're happy to help you on your health journey. Connect with us today to get started with our meal prep plans.