Sad to say, but the mainstream media and the majority of Health and Fitness Pro’s are still on the polyunsaturated fat band wagon claiming that vegetable oils will help you lose weight and decrease your risk of obesity related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, cancer etc. The truth however, is like most things in life… “It’s all about balance.”
And as you might have guessed, we’re not getting much balance anymore. Not only in our everyday lives with too much work and not enough play but we’re also experiencing imbalances in our nutrition with the excessive consumption of polyunsaturated oils.
Over the past 140 years since the onset of the industrial revolution, the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids in our diet has increased from 1:1 to an average range of 10:1 and 20:1 and some as high as 25:1. I’m definitely not a numbers whiz,( my clients can attest to that because I can’t count worth a crap) but those are some whacked out changes.
Recent research and the obvious evidence that we’re in the midst of an obesity epidemic, points the finger towards veggie oils as one of the major contributors to our expanding waistlines and increased health problems.
Here’s why:
1.) Vegetable oils are in pretty much every processed food on the market. Try it once. Next time you’re at the grocery store get down and dirty and read some labels. I’d be willing to bet my next paycheck that it’s gonna be hard for you to find much in a bag, box or bottle that doesn’t have some form of vegetable oil in it. Cereals, cookies, crackers, salad dressings, margarine, sauces, mayonnaise, marinades and even non dairy creamers contain polyunsaturated oils.
2.) Vegetable oils are used in most fast and non-fast food restaurants. The use of polyunsaturated oils for frying and food prep is pervasive in the food industry. You’ll be hard pressed to find many restaurants that don’t fry or cook with vegetable oils.
3.) We’re nuts about nuts. Not only are we eating more fast and processed foods, but we’re eating more nuts than ever. I’ve been soooo guilty of this one. Especially being that I’m a recovering peanut butter aholic. It’s just been in the last 3 months or so that I’ve finally cut back on my nutty habits. I’m now down to an occasional teaspoon or two of peanut butter instead of a jar every week or two habit. My current little drug of choice is the macadamia. They’re very tasty,satisfying and they don’t have as many omega 6’s in them (one of the very few nuts that don’t).
4.) We’re bombarded with crap food. It’s everywhere. You can’t even pump gas without being tempted to get your free pop-tarts with the purchase of a cup o Jo.
So what’s one to do? The solution is pretty simple even though it may not be easy.
Work these 5 suggestions into your lifestyle and I guarantee you’ll start to lose your belly fat and decrease your health risks.
1.) Avoid commercial fried foods. Instead make your own fries and use coconut oil. In my opinion, the best oil on the planet for frying. Here’s a link (White Truffle Fries) for a great french fri recipe by the Matt Stone (180 Degree Health). If you'd like to learn more about Matt's stuff he's got a FREE e-book on his thoughts re: Diets that you can grab here .
2.) Make your own salad dressing. Almost every commercial salad dressing, mayonnaise and many other condiments contain some type of vegetable oil. Usually soybean. They also often contain High Fructose Corn syrup, which is another waistline and metabolism arch enemy.
3.) Cook and bake with real (preferably grass fed)butter, coconut oil and olive oil. These oils not only taste better, but they’re much more stable especially at higher heats.
4.) Don’t go Nuts with Nuts. Even though nuts are touted as a health food, in excess they can really whack out your omega 3 omega 6 ratio and push your polyunsaturated fat intake over the top. Besides cutting back be sure to include Macadamia (as I mentioned earlier) and Hazelnuts because they're low in polyunsaturated fatty acids.
5.) Avoid commercially baked goods. They usually contain the big 3 belly busters. Refined white flour, refined sugar and polyunsaturated vegetable oil. And most are partially hydrogenated too. Another health destroyer.
Some may think my suggestions aren’t the most convenient, but if you work them in and spread the word to your family and friends it’ll make a huge difference in your health and what’s available to us as consumers. They won’t continue to offer what we won’t buy. We have got the powah! (remember that song?) We vote 3 or more times a day.