Vegetable oils are some of the most misunderstood and over-recommended foods in the health community. You’ve probably heard these referred to as “heart-healthy” oils. They are anything but!!
Canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, sunflower oil, and safflower oil are found in the majority of processed foods, even the ones labeled organic. What makes these oils so unhealthy is the process used to extract the oils from the seeds. To extract the oil manufacturers use a very high-heat harsh chemical process that completely destroys any healthy aspect of the seeds and alters their composition which makes the resulting oil toxic to your body’s cells.
Since these oils are chemically produced it’s really not surprising that they contain harmful chemicals. Most vegetable oils and their products contain BHA (butylated hydroxanisole) and BHT (butylated toluene) which have artificial antioxidants that keep food from oxidizing or spoiling too quickly. Maybe that’s why they can sit on supermarket shelves for months.
These chemicals have been shown to produce potential cancer causing compounds in the body and have also been linked to liver/kidney damage, immune problems, infertility and sterility, high cholesterol levels, and behavioral problems in children.
Conduct your own survey and go to the “organic” salad dressing section of your supermarket.
You’ll find that in every single bottle, vegetable oil will be the second largest ingredient in the dressing.
If you’re going to have a salad, use your own homemade dressing. Olive oil (which is healthy) and vinegar. BTW-the U.S. Government (U.S.D.A) still recommends vegetable oils as heart-healthy.
Never take health advice from the government!
Ennis Murphy is a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach. To learn more about his practice and approach to overall health please visit tworiverhealth.com
This article appears in the November 2018 issue of Natural Awakenings Monmouth/Ocean edition. To subscribe click here, or download the entire issue by clicking the image below. Thank you :)
