"Healthy" vegetable oils???? 1-3-2011

“Healthy” Vegetable oils???

Today I just want to talk a little bit about fats.  I have debated as to how to approach the topic of fats and decided I will just start with vegetable oils.   I will post more in the future further discussing the roles of fats and which ones we are designed to consume. 

So for now, we will just talk about vegetable oils also known as PUFA’s (poly unsaturated fatty acids).  It’s important to understand that these types of oils are new to the human diet.  We have only been eating these oils for a little over 100 years.  Oddly enough cardio vascular disease(CVD) and other degenerative diseases, which are all related to the inflammatory processes of the body, have dramatically increased in the last 100 years. 

The first recorded death in the US from CVD happened in 1912 and, within 40 years, become the number 1 killer in the US.   PUFA’s are liquids at room temperature and saturated fats (animal fats) are solid at room temperature.  Saturated fats were the primary, and in many cases only source of fats for humans until recently.  Humans who greater bone density, more muscle and didn't have the degenerative diseases we have today.  Saturated fat consumption has actually decreased in the last 100 years while PUFA consumption has almost tripled. Yet CVD has increased almost 400%.  Wait a second; I thought Saturated fats caused CVD….wrong.  Animal fats are a source of cholesterol as well.  Oddly enough cholesterol consumption has only increased about 1% yet CVD continues to rise.

Ok, I know what you’re thinking, that can’t be true.  Well it is.  First, let’s understand the history of PUFA’s.  They were initially used in paints and varnishes since they oxidize and harden rapidly once exposed to oxygen…kinda like the oxygen in our arteries…hmmm.  As synthetic substances began to replace them, they started being used in animal feed.  Once farmers figured out that it was killing their animals, it was decided to use them for human consumption.  Crazy, I know. 

Here is a short article on PUFA’s and Saturated fats:

History of PUFA's

Saturated fats are absolutely critical for cell membrane formation, healthy immune system, brain function and hormone production.   Our bodies are designed to use them. Our body uses sunlight to convert cholesterol into Vit-D, also critical for brain function and calcium retention. Cholesterol is also used in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters.  PUFA’s are loaded with Omega-6’s, which are essential and only needed in small amounts, that actually up-regulate our immune system and inflammatory processes.  To top it off, they oxidize and harden very easily and break down under heat where saturated fats do not and are stable under high heats.   Plus almost all vegetable oils by the time they reach the shelf are already rancid and contain toxic constituents.   To make them, they are exposed to very high heats, carcinogenic chemicals and have to be bleached and deodorized before they can be bottled…otherwise we would gag if we tried to eat them or just smelled them.

Here is a short article on just how vegetable oils are processed:

Refining Vegetable Oils

The message is get rid of vegetable oils.  I won’t get started on hydrogenated oils and trans fats…really bad stuff…but throw any of that out too.  Look at using saturated fats again.  Coconut oil is awesome and very healthy, plus it can handle high heat.  I’m sure I will have a post on coconut oil too.  Extra virgin olive oil is great but doesn’t handle heat well, so don’t cook with it.  Olive oil is a mono-unsaturated fat, which we will save for another day.  Vegetable oils are bad news guys.  I will revisit this topic again and expound more on it along with the effects of certain fatty acids and LDL and HDL.  But until then, look it up, do some research or you can just trust me.  One of the guys responsible for this trend was Ancel Keys who proposed the famous “Lipid Hypothesis” that was used to develop dietary guidelines….its a HYPOTHESIS!! Its not even a theory!!  Anyway, that’s another story too.

All we use in the house is coconut oil, butter (organic and grassfed when we can get it) and olive oil for salads or low heat items.  Enjoy the articles.  Remember, if you have any questions, send me an email or post em.   Here is where we get our coconut oil. 

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil