First and foremost, I want everyone to know that I think being “scared” of any food or food group is stupid. I’m stressed, you’re stressed, we are all f*cking STRESSED; giving you one more thing to worry about is not what I am about. If you’re reading this, you may not be a bodybuilder or health nut, but I can only assume you probably want to be the healthiest YOU there is. With all that said, let’s talk about SEED OILS.
What are seed oils? Seed oils are, prepare yourself for this, vegetable oil derived from the seeds of plants. Seed oils are high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), meaning they have two or more double bonds in their fatty acid chain. The more double bonds, the more molecularly unstable and prone to oxidation (rancidity) it becomes. So, to break it down and skip a lot of the chemistry (sorry, I love this stuff), these rancid molecules chilling in your body will cause A LOT of bad sh*t. Chronic inflammation, which, in my opinion, is the cause of most diseases, obesity, and heart disease, just to name a few, are all linked to diets higher in linoleic acid (PUFAs). Here's the real kicker: they are in almost EVERYTHING!
At this point, I’m sure you’re wondering, “So why are we using them?!” Simply put, they’re cheap. Most processed foods, restaurants, and shelf-stable products use some type of seed oil since it is budget-friendly and has a high smoke point with a very neutral taste. Seed oils were once considered “healthy”, which may or may not correlate to Proctor and Gamble’s (AKA Crisco) $1.5 million donation to the American Heart Association in the 1940’s. Still, as times change, we learn and science progresses, we now know that seed oils are not the best choice for optimizing our health and longevity. Essentially, knowledge is power. Should you freak out if you realize, “OMG, OMG, OMG, I just ate seed oil.” The answer is NO. Personally, what I do is keep my everyday staples seed oil free.
I make sure my nut milks, sauces, and meats are free from soy, canola, sunflower, corn, and grapeseed oil. I cook usually with macadamia nut oil or ghee and use avocado or olive oil for drizzling and salads. This way, if you’re out to eat or at a friend’s house, you can let your guard down and enjoy the moment rather than worrying about what oils you’re eating. FYI, your favorite treats from BAMBODY NUTRITION are seed oil FREE and contain body-loving organic coconut and olive oil or organic ghee. Enjoy 100% stress-free!!!