Seed oils can be making you ill – here’s why

 

Seed oils are vegetable oils extracted from seeds and are found throughout the modern food supply. Common examples include soybean, sunflower, safflower, corn, canola, cottonseed, grapeseed and rice bran oils. They are widely used in packaged foods, baked goods, salad dressings, sauces, fried foods and fast food because they are inexpensive, versatile and generally have a neutral flavour.

But seed oils can make you very ill because they are toxic. Seed oils contain polyunsaturated fats, particularly linoleic acid which can cause inflammation and oxidation.

Which seed oils should you avoid?

The short answer is all of them. Better to not buy them and not cook with them. Also to stop eating ultra processed foods that are known to contain them. Start reading labels and let go of the deep-fried foods, those high in kilojoules and carbohydrates, salt and sugar. Your take away food is most likely cooked in repeated oils that in itself will promote oxidation and the formation of toxic products.

How do seed oils affect your body?

Linoleic acid is a precursor for oxidative stress. Polyunsaturated fats contain chemically vulnerable double bonds, which undergo oxidation under certain conditions. Oxidized lipids can produce reactive compounds that interact with cells and tissues. So, when you consume linoleic acid in this denatured world it can add to your inflammation or mitochondrial damage which probably already exists in your body. Saturated fats on the other hand are metabolised differently and therefore in many cases make the healthier choice.

One of the biggest concerns with seed oils is their high concentration of linoleic acid, an Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid. Linoleic acid can become incorporated into cell membranes throughout the body, including the membranes surrounding mitochondria.

Linoleic acid has a very long half-life in the body, meaning that replacing it with other fatty acids can take considerable time. This is one reason why reducing ongoing exposure to seed oils is important.

Seed oils are also extensively processed. Industrial production can involve high temperatures, chemical extraction, bleaching, and deodorisation. Processing and subsequent storage or heating can contribute to oxidation and the formation of undesirable lipid compounds.

Another concern is that polyunsaturated fats are particularly vulnerable to oxidation when exposed to heat, light, and oxygen. Oxidized fats can generate lipid peroxides and free radicals, which may contribute to oxidative stress and cellular damage. Repeatedly heating cooking oils can further increase oxidation.

Seed oils are also heavily concentrated in omega-6 fatty acids. A diet dominated by seed oils and ultra-processed foods can contribute to an excessive intake of Omega-6 fats while providing insufficient Omega-3 fats. Maintaining a healthy balance between these fatty acids is important for regulating inflammatory processes in the body which is why you should never take an Omega 3 supplement on its own but in a combination of 3,6 and 9.

Seed oils and mitochondrial health

Mitochondria are often called the powerhouses of our cells because they produce ATP, the energy required for cellular function. The inner mitochondrial membrane contains a phospholipid called cardiolipin. If cardiolipin has an abundance of linoleic acid then oxidative stress can increase and the mitochondria become highly oxidised and disrupt cellular energy production. This can affect autophagy, protein transport, mitochondrial dynamics, and mitophagy which is the removal and recycling of damaged mitochondria.

When mitochondrial function is compromised, cellular energy production can suffer. This may contribute to problems such as fatigue, brain fog, poor metabolic function, sleep disturbances, and increased oxidative stress. Seed oils can also force your body into sugar-burning mode, damage mitochondria and speed up aging.

How to detox seed oils from your body

There is no easy solution for removing seed oils from your body because fatty acids can become incorporated into cell membranes meaning replacing them requires time. The goal is to stop adding more problematic fats while supporting healthy cellular and metabolic function.

1.   Eat a natural food diet

The first step is to eliminate seed oils from your diet. Avoid processed foods containing soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, grapeseed, canola, and rice bran oils. This means eliminating chips, crackers, fried foods, frozen meals, cookies, muffins, cakes, margarine, packaged sauces, processed snacks, microwave popcorn, instant noodles, fast food, and other over processed foods.

Instead, focus on nutrient rich whole foods. Choose quality animal products such as grass-fed or pasture raised animal products, wild caught seafood, eggs, Greek yogurt, vegetables, herbs, spices, low-glycaemic fruits, avocados, olives, extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, butter, and ghee. Also drink filtered water free from contaminants.

Be sure to eliminate canola, soybean, peanut, corn. Safflower, grapeseed, margarine, cottonseed oil and hydrogenated oils. Replace these with good old butter, tallow, ghee, coconut milk or oil, avocado oil, olive or fish oil and eggs. Those are all natural fats that your body uses more easily.

2.   Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting can support autophagy, the body's natural cellular recycling process. Autophagy helps the body identify and recycle damaged cellular components.

Begin by gradually increasing the overnight fasting period from dinner to breakfast. If your last meal is 8pm then to achieve metabolic health and cellular repair start with a 12-hour overnight fast and have breakfast after 8am. Then you can gradually increase the fasting window as appropriate to a 16 hour fast. Remember to check with your doctor or naturopath before you start especially if there are already health concerns such as diabetes etc. Fasting may be inappropriate for some people with some conditions.

3.   Exercise

Regular movement is another important component of supporting metabolic health and cellular renewal. Walking, resistance training, cardiovascular exercise, stretching, and other forms of physical activity can support circulation, mitochondrial function, and autophagy.

Combining strength training with cardiovascular exercise provides a comprehensive approach to maintaining metabolic and cellular health.

4.   Sleep

Sleep is essential for tissue repair, cellular renewal, metabolic regulation, and overall recovery. Aim for approximately seven hours each night. Support your circadian rhythm by getting natural light during the day and reducing bright artificial light and close down all screens 2 hours before you sleep. Create a calm nighttime environment and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.

5.   Saunas

Heat therapy and sauna use can stimulate heat-shock proteins and cellular stress-response pathways. These processes can support cellular maintenance and autophagy. Saunas also facilitate detoxification, improve blood glucose levels, increase growth hormone, reduce inflammation and improve circulation. Infrared saunas are amazing and if you haven’t tried it yet, please do. It would be good to make it part of your regular wellness routine. Remember again to check with your doctor or naturopath if this is safe for you depending on other health issues you may have.

6.   Cold exposure

Have you ever had a warm shower and then just turned on the cold for a second? Instantly your energy field will respond and your body also. Cold showers and cold plunges can stimulate responses that can influence mitochondrial activity and cellular recycling. Start with brief periods of cool and gradually increase the duration.

The most effective strategy though is to stop consuming seed oils regularly and replace ultra-processed foods with nutritious whole food alternatives. Include all of the above in your wellness routine and within months you will begin to see some results. Remember your body needs time to detox from any artificial poisons so give it a bit of time.

Here at www.stressfreehealthmanagement.com we specialise in finding what is right for you as part of your wellness plan. Our combined naturopathy, nutrition, counselling, energy and spiritual healing, meditation and other services all make one big bundle to get you healthy and keep you healthy. These are all included in your session. Perhaps it’s time you brought some great positive change into your life! Give us a call today to find out how we can help YOU!

Are Causes of Alzheimer's Disease Known?

The causes of Alzheimer's disease are not fully known, however, there are things that have been shown to create a higher risk. Insulin resistance is a commonly talked about factor when it comes to you getting Alzheimer's, although it isn’t the only factor. Processed foods and foods high in sugar cause insulin resistance. This is due to processed foods containing ingredients that are not good for you and they can affect your brain. These ingredients can include vegetable oils, genetically engineered ingredients, gluten and pesticides. If you have high blood sugar it is best to avoid as much of these as you can. Eating a healthy diet rich in fresh foods is best.

We need to remember to look at the fats in the foods we are eating and concentrate on healthy fats. Healthy fats include saturated animal fats and animal-based omega-3, these are critical for optimal brain function but you should not overdo them. They are found in foods such as avocados, grass fed meats, eggs, and raw nuts. We need to avoid bad fats such as trans fats or hydrogenated fats, which are found in margarine, vegetable oils and various butter-like spreads.

Factors for putting you at higher risk

Alcohol can put you at higher risk of developing dementia. These risks are easily removed when you limit your alcohol intake.

Vitamin D deficiency can make your risk higher also. Studies have shown this link. Vitamin D plays a major role in brain health, immune function, gene expression and inflammation. These are all things that can influence Alzheimer's. Vitamin D levels can boost brain chemicals and help protect brain cells by increasing the effectiveness of glial cells in nursing damaged neurons back to health.

Omega-3 level is a crucial component for optimal brain health in general. People with higher omega-3 levels tend to have increased blood flow in areas of the brain associated with memory and learning.

There are several genes that predispose you to Alzheimer's. The most common gene associated with late onset Alzheimer's is the apolipoprotein E or APOE gene. The APOE e2 form has been thought to reduce your risk while the APOE e4 form may increase it. Although, some people never develop the disease even though they've inherited the APOE e4 gene. So, when it comes to genes, while they can be a risk it is not a direct or inevitable cause. Risk for early onset Alzheimer's can also be found through genetic testing.

Getting regular exercise can help to reduce your risk. Exercise has been shown to protect your brain from Alzheimer's and other dementia. It can also improve your quality of life if you've already been diagnosed.

Arterial stiffness is associated with the process of Alzheimer's because of the build-up of beta-amyloid plaque in your brain. There's a strong link between hypertension and brain diseases such as vascular cognitive impairment, which is loss of brain function caused by bad blood flow to your brain, and dementia. To reduce the risk address high blood pressure and risk factors for heart disease.

This clinic can help you reduce all of the above, get on a healthy eating plan and motivate you to a better lifestyle. Check out our website at www.stressfreemanagement.com.au and give us a call today.