The Journey Toward Better Health: Seed Oils
I was surprised to discover that the primary cause of poor health might be trust.
I’m often reluctant to research certain topics for fear I’ll become angrified. (I am aware that angrified isn’t a word, but considering it accurately describes the condition I often suffer, we’ll go with it.) I knew little about seed oils, except that once in a while they would blip onto my radar. They seemed to be at one end of the teeter-totter as we bounced favor between butter and margarine then back to butter. Who knows which is in favor at this point?
When my boyfriend began his carnivore diet and stated he was going to avoid seed oils whenever possible, I figured that the time to bury my head in the sand had ended. I could no longer avoid learning all about seed oils, despite my fear of becoming angrified. I steadied my breathing, calmed my mind, and dove right into the ocean of information that awaited me. I’m glad I did, but to be honest, I wish I hadn’t. Ignorance is bliss.
What Are Seed Oils?
For generations people consumed saturated, or animal based, fats. These fats are of course found in meats; lard and butter are saturated fats as well. However, once the industrial revolution began, changes to our primary diet soon followed. Seed oils, which are derived from waste created as a byproduct of large scale production, soon found their way from the trash bins onto our tables. To render them “edible”, the seed oils undergo extensive processing. There are many videos out there detailing this process. They are exposed to chemicals and extreme heat in multiple stages; the last of these exposures removes the rancid smell that would expose them for their true nature: toxic.
Which Oils Are Considered Seed Oils?
Seed oils, also called vegetable oils, are highly processed oils which contain high levels of omega-6 fatty acids; these acids become inflammatory compounds in our bodies. Seed oils have a very low oxidation point, which is precisely why they are so toxic. Saturated animal fats are the most resistant to oxidation; mono and poly unsaturated fats (seed oils) oxidize more quickly. The oxidation process itself releases toxins into the body. There is plenty of detailed information available for those interested, but the primary issue seems to be that seed oils destroy your mitochondria cardiolipin. Oversimplified, mitochondria cardiolipin are part of a cell’s anatomy involving energy production.
The seed oils that make up the “evil eight” are: sunflower, grapeseed, soy, corn, safflower, cottonseed, canola, and rice bran oils. These are to be avoided.
The saturated fats, or fats more resistant to oxidation, are ghee, beef tallow, extra virgin olive oil, butter, and cold pressed fats: coconut oil and avocado oil.
I was curious about sesame oil, which I love to use in salad dressings and when cooking certain foods. It seems the seeds are pressed raw, and perhaps not subjected to over processing, which would imply sesame is a healthy oil to consume. Sesame oil is also high in mono and poly unsaturated fats, which much of my research found to be the culprit for many health issues. This is a great example of how challenging this research can be; it seems we cannot agree which is best between saturated and unsaturated fats. I will note that the article which stated mono and poly unsaturated fats were good fats was based on information as provided by the American Diabetes Association, which becomes relevant as we explore how seed oils became a thing.
How Did Seed Oils Become A Thing?
This is where my fear of becoming angrified crystalized into reality.
How much money did Procter & Gamble pay the American Heart Association to promote Crisco, their shiny new product, as a healthy replacement for animal fats? The answer ($1.5 million) is not as relevant as the question itself. Why, pray tell, would a soap company pay a government health agency for anything? The answer is simple and par for the course. A corporation needed to turn waste into money and the U.S. government was more than happy to help. At no point was the health and well being of the American public factored in to this agreement.
Prior to the 1920s, heart attacks were quite rare. While there are insufficient studies to confirm this, there is considerable correlative evidence connecting the consumption of seed oils with an increased number of heart attacks. There are also correlations between seed oil consumption and Alzheimer’s Disease, macro degeneration, cancer, auto immune diseases, chronic inflammatory diseases and a large variety of other skin, gut and weight issues.
It’d be so nice if the agencies in place to protect us did their jobs. However, after a global pandemic, we have become aware that incompetence, corruption and special interests are very influential in determining which products and what information reaches us. Take, for instance, the recent lawsuit claiming Skittles are unfit for human consumption. When addressing this issue, Tatiana Santos, chemicals manager with the European Environmental Bureau, commented; “It often seems the U.S. favors the market over protection”. Ah, that sounds like my home sweet home, where catering to corporations has replaced representative government.
Remember the insane food pyramid we were told to use as a dietary guide in grade school? Might the promotion of a carb heavy diet be related to the monocropping of corn or other grains? How about the relentless marketing of sugary cereals to children? How many fast food empires have risen as our collective health has deteriorated? We are constantly encouraged to consume foods that align with corporate interests. It is possible that a corporation’s primary interest may not be ensuring you are your healthiest you. I’ve heard it has more to do with stockholders.
It is safe to say that the advice we receive from government agencies such as the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association or the FDA should be taken with a grain of salt. With enough funding, these agencies can convince the general public of pretty much anything. After all, the AHA persuaded an entire country to believe the traditional human diet was to blame for an increase of disease and not the newly introduced factor, seed oils. This is a prime example of why blind trust in the government might not serve one as well as good old fashioned logic and reason.
Where Are Seed Oils Hiding?
Everywhere. No, seriously, they are everywhere. In 1909, we consumed basically zero seed oils; today seed oils are often 100% of the fats we consume. Let’s do a quick little kitchen laboratory experiment. Pull your jar of mayonnaise out of the fridge. The FIRST ingredient on my jar of Best Foods mayo is soybean oil. I have literally been slathering my sandwiches in seed oil! Look at any processed food item in your kitchen. You’ll find sneaky seed oils in peanut butter, my granola has some (!!), quick rice, soup, salad dressings, baked goods… it’s kind of a bummer. Most restaurants, even the good, non-fast food ones, cook with vegetable oils. Some argue consuming certain meats can be problematic if the animals were fed seed oils.
Is It Possible To Eliminate Seed Oils From Your Diet?
Yes, but it won’t be super easy. If you wished to clear your diet of these oils, you’d be tossing most of your processed food in the trash. Seed oils show up in some unexpected places, but eliminating them is not impossible. I have a few nut butters that my sister gifted me; they are a small batch, homemade version like you’d find at a farmer’s market. They are free of seed oils. You can find mayonnaise made with olive or avocado oils. The deliciously addictive Trader Joe’s Mac & Cheese is free of seed oils (this brought me considerable joy). There are plenty of seed oil free options; you’ll need to scrutinize your purchases to find them.
Eating out poses some challenges if you are not comfortable discussing the cooking oils used by the chef. Like anyone with a food intolerance, you’d need to make special requests, such as asking that your fish be cooked in butter rather than vegetable oil. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find a local farm to table that refuses to cook in seed oils. If you do, show them some love!
Healthy eating comes at a cost. If I shop at the organic farm in my neighborhood, it is not cheap. I went berry picking there recently and left with three small berry baskets and a $60.00 hole in my wallet. Having just received my certification in urban agriculture, I am quite aware of the time, effort and challenges that small scale organic farms are facing. This is reflected in the pricing. While I can’t fault them, I also can’t deny that many are priced out of clean, organic eating.
Basically, should you wish to eat clean and healthy, prepare to spend time and money. Since many of us have neither to spare, the ease of a quick, cheap diet smothered in seed oils will be a constant temptation. Starting small, maybe by replacing vegetable oils with cold pressed oils when cooking at home, will get you started on the journey without upending your entire lifestyle. A baby-steps approach is certainly a great option if you’re not in a place where a complete overhaul is reasonable.
What’s A Girl To Do?
If I cannot trust my government to have my best interests at heart, I’ll have to take matters into my own hands. Considering that it is easy to find information suggesting seed oils are healthy alternatives to saturated fats as well as information suggesting that they are not, it’s easy to justify both consuming and avoiding seed oils. It’s confusing. Because the effects of seed oils on the human body is an area of study that seems to interest very few scientists (or those who fund them), most data is simply correlative. It seems to me that my best option is to conduct a study of my own.
My journey toward better health began with adding consistent exercise into my routine. I’m not trying to lose weight; my goals are to be well toned and improve my metabolic health. Currently, I’m working out regularly and taking walks at least twice every day. I began at a level that was challenging and increased frequency and intensity as I built strength. I’ve come to enjoy working out, so keeping up with it has not been especially difficult.
When I looked into diet, however, I became overwhelmed! There are so many: Paleo, Keto, South Beach, Mediterranean, carnivore, vegan, oh my. Rather than introducing rules and setting limits, which I am terrible at keeping up with, I decided a broad approach would be best for me. This made seed oils a nice place to start. They are found everywhere; I can eliminate them by substitution and without having to follow a strict diet. That being said, eliminating them will require that I cook my own food and stop eating out. The information I’ve found at the Seed Oil Rebellion website has been inspiring and helpful. They have shopping guides to help find the ingredients needed to build a seed oil free diet.
I have read testimonials from those who have eliminated or greatly reduced seed oil intake. I am quite interested to see if I can achieve some of the benefits I’ve read about, such as reduced congestion and accordingly improved senses of taste and smell, less susceptibility to UV rays (tanning rather than burning), and better skin (fewer breakouts).
A Woman With A Plan!
I am planning to begin my seed oil elimination diet in August. My initial goal will be to cut seed oils for a minimum of three months. At the end of October, I can evaluate my progress and determine if there have been any improvements to how I am feeling in general. Depending on how difficult I’ve found the three month stretch to be, I may extend it. Alternatively, I might decide to allow myself to eat out occasionally. Would the reintroduction of minimal amounts of seed oils have a noticeable effect? I have also considered the possibility that I might be unable to pinpoint any improvement to my health or general wellbeing.
I plan to post about this experience, so will keep you updated. Since my boyfriend will also be embarking on this journey with me, I’ll have his experience to report as well. Should anyone wish to join us, I’d welcome the support and feedback. Please let me know in the comments or feel free to email me.