Seed Oils: Unmasking the Hidden Link to Inflammation
Seed and vegetable oils have become ubiquitous in modern cuisine. Their affordability, widespread availability, and perception as healthier alternatives to animal fats have made them the default choice for many home kitchens and restaurants alike.
However, recent research suggests that seed oils may not be as innocuous as we once thought and the general process used to create seed oils is anything but natural.
Let’s start with how seed oils are made:
The oils extracted from soybeans, corn, cottonseed, safflower seeds, and other seeds must be refined, bleached, and deodorized before they are ready for human consumption.
First, seeds are gathered from plants such as corn, sunflowers, peanuts, soy, cotton, safflower, and more.
The seeds are heated to super hot temperatures which then cause the unsaturated fatty acids in the seeds to oxidize, creating byproducts that are harmful to humans and animals alike.
The seeds are commonly processed using petroleum-based solvents, such as hexane, to maximize the amount of oil extracted from them — not good for us, if consumed.
Then the oils are deodorized which uses more chemicals. This part of the process produces trans fats — well known to be unhealthy. Lastly, more chemicals are added to augment the color of the seed oils.
The problems seed oils cause:
Essential fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that we cannot make ourselves and must be consume in our diets. These fats come in two types: omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids.
Omega-6 fatty acids give rise to arachidonic acid and potent metabolites that are known to increase inflammation, including prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4. Contrarily, Omega-3 fatty acids such as ALA, EPA, and DHA, on the other hand, are anti-inflammatory in how they behave in the body. A delicate balance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids is critical in promoting your health. So, when we constantly are consuming vegetable oils with lots of omega-6, our bodies become imbalanced resulting in chronic inflammation, IBS, asthma, autoimmune disease, cognition and mental health issues, and even diabetes and obesity.
What ares some alternatives to seed oils?
- Organic Grass Fed Beef Tallow
- Organic Avocado Oil
- Organic Olive Oil
- Organic Coconut Oil (also referred to as MCT oil)
Each of these oils are much healthier for humans and have a better ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 fatty acids. They also taste great with all sorts of dishes.
Benefits of eliminating seed oils from your diet:
- Better digestion
- Better energy and mood throughout the day
- Better skin complexion
- Weight loss (calories in vs calories out still primarily dictates this outcome)
- Better mobility and less pain caused by inflammation
- Reduced skin sensitivity to sunlight exposure
Despite how readily available seed oils might be, research shows that we should strive to find alternatives. If optimal health is one of your goals, then try to include a well-balanced omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio.
Source Cited: [https://chriskresser.com/how-industrial-seed-oils-are-making-us-sick/](https://chriskresser.com/how-industrial-seed-oils-are-making-us-sick/)
