Industrial seed oils, commonly known as “vegetable oils,” are highly processed oils that were introduced to the Western diet about a hundred years ago and have parallels to the rising rates of chronic diseases in modernized societies. The first industrial seed oil to jump in on the scene was cottonseed oil, which was originally used by Procter and Gamble to make soap as a cheaper alternative to animal fat. They soon discovered that the oil (which was formerly considered a “toxic waste”) could be chemically altered through a hydrogenation process to turn into a solid fat, resembling lard, that could be used to cook with. This is where we get Crisco. From this lucrative discovery, which had no evidence of being safe for human consumption, others joined the bandwagon, resulting in oil made from soybeans, rapeseed (canola oil), corn, and safflower oils. Before these oils are deemed suitable for human consumption, they must be refined, bleached, and deodorized. This stuff can be considered food about as much as a couch can. Wanna know how olive oil is made? By squeezing olives. The process that industrial seed oils undergo create chemical residues, trans fats, and oxidized byproducts and are mostly derived from GMO plants that are loaded with glyphosate. These oils have been associated with heart disease, diabetes, obesity, asthma, autoimmune disease, gut disruption, inflammation, infertility, osteoarthritis, and macular degeneration. These oils also contribute to emotional dis-ease. The Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio in these oils create an inflammatory response in the body. Research has made it clear that systemic inflammation is linked to the etiology of anxiety and depression, as well as other psychological imbalances. Also, synthetic antioxidants are added to prevent rancidity and oxidation because of how unstable the fatty acids are in these oils. These synthetic antioxidants have endocrine-disrupting effects, meaning they create disharmony with our hormones. Our hormonal system has an intimate relationship with our mood and cognition. If you’d like to avoid industrial seed oils, here are a few good places to start:
Stop buying corn, canola, cottonseed, soybean, sunflower, sunflower, safflower, or peanut oils.
Swap them out for the good stuff. Organic extra virgin olive oil in a dark glass container, grass-fed butter, ghee, lard, coconut oil, and avocado oil are all much more delicious too.
Stop eating processed foods. If it comes in a wrapper, it’s likely a processed food.
Most restaurants are using industrial seed oils… it’s true :/
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