Seed Oils

a big no in a nutshell

Do you know your cooking oils? Most people don’t, but it’s important to be informed! As a mindful chef and eater, I invest a lot of time researching what goes into and onto my body. When I was a young wife and mom, I often chose the cheaper options without realizing I was harming both myself and my family. Finances were tight back then. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in 1999 that I completely changed my approach to cooking. I went organic as much as I could afford, I ditched vegetable oil for olive oil, extra virgin at that and I used more butter when I could. People thought I was a bit extreme, but I’m better off for it, and I will continue to be extreme in all areas of well-being.

Seed oils are in the spotlight as of late, and I’m glad. They need to take center stage to better inform all who cook with these oils. Seed oils, often marketed as “vegetable oils,” are extracted from the seeds of crops like soybeans, cottonseed, and corn. Unlike natural fats such as olive oil, butter, or tallow, these oils are heavily processed before they ever hit your pantry.

They are made by crushing the seeds at a high heat level, and the oils are extracted using chemical solvents. The oils get refined, often bleached, and deodorized to mask rancidity. Using seed oils can lead to inflammation, insulin resistance, heart disease, diabetes, and more. Are you ready to make the change?

Being aware is the first step in taking back your health. Read the labels, seed oils hide in salad dressings, sauces, and even snacks. Cook at home; most restaurants use the cheapest oils to save money. You want to cook with stable fats like ghee, tallow, butter, or coconut oil. Reserve olive and avocado oils for cold use. Just changing your cooking oil drastically reduces your intake of toxic oils and supports metabolic health, plus the food tastes cleaner.

The good oils: Extra virgin olive oil is always best. Avocado, grapeseed, flaxseed, walnut, and coconut round out the list of safe, natural oils that aid in preventing the damage that the harmful oils cause. Start small, your best bet price-wise is the olive oil option, organic of course. Food is expensive, don’t waste it on bad oils, your health will thank you!