Growing up in South Georgia means cooking oils might as well be a food group. There is so much deep fried, pan fried, and gravied foods. It is a part of everyday life. Vegetable oil was used in just about every meal I consumed as a child, and I carried this use into adulthood. It was how I learned to cook. It was how I grew up. I did not know until recently just how bad vegetable oil is for your body.
As I began my health journey a little over a year ago, I came across many articles about how the things we eat can cause inflammation in the body. During my schooling with IIN, there was an entire module dedicated to inflammation in the body leading to chronic disease. It is eye opening, and not talked about enough in my opinion!
One of the big culprits causing this inflammation in our bodies are inflammatory oils. These are oils we have used for years that have been marketed as “heart healthy” and “lower fat.” I often look at the low fat craze and wonder how we have all survived, but that is a discussion for another time. Many of these so called low fat oils are still mainstream today and used in millions of kitchens.
What makes these oils inflammatory? First of all, I need to explain how we came about using these oils. In the 1900’s factories began making industrial seed oils. Until this point, cooking oils used were only made by hand. As industrialization began growing, so did the mass production of seed oils. More people began using these processed, factory produced oils and less animal fats and butter. Processed oils are great from a business standpoint. They are cheap to make, mass produced, and often contain low quality ingredients. These oils are not great for your body.
Since you are on the edge of your seat wondering what these “bad” oils are, I will list them for you. These oils include: vegetable oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, soybean oil, corn oil, peanut oil, and seed oils. These oils are all highly processed and inflammatory to our bodies. These oils contain omega-6 fatty acids that when metabolized produce free radicals. Free radicals cause inflammation in the body, which can lead to heart disease, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
There is even more bad news when it comes to processed oils. Many are made with genetically engineered crops, otherwise known as GMOs. These crops are made to withstand harsh herbicides. The excess chemicals used on GMO crops lead to further inflammation in our bodies.
What cooking oils are left that are healthy for our bodies? It seems like the choices are limited, but there are quite a few that are actually beneficial to our bodies. Focusing on less processed, more natural cooking oils is the way to go. This includes olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil. Just read the label to make sure there are no additives.
Despite what we have been told for years, our body needs fat! God made our bodies to use fat for brain health, hormone health, and much more. Adding healthy fats to our meals is crucial for our health. Healthy oils are a great way to add fat to meals, but animal fat and real butter are good, too.
It can seem really overwhelming trying to get healthier, but small changes, like switching out cooking oils, are easy. As you take small steps, you will notice how much better you feel. Try changing out your salad dressing for olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Pan fry your meat in avocado oil instead of vegetable oil. Pretty soon, you will only be using these less processed oils, and your body will thank you for it!