🧵THREAD: Today I am going to red-pill you about dangerous vegetable oils, which are found in almost all processed foods. Consequently, this is likely the most important thread you will read this week. Contrary to popular belief, the term 'vegetable oils' is misleading. These oils are called 'vegetable' not because they come from vegetables in the traditional sense, but because they are derived from plant sources. This includes seeds such as cottonseeds, soybeans, and sunflower seeds.
These oils need to be heavily refined to remove various toxins and natural impurities, which can be harmful or affect the taste and stability of the oil. The refining process also extends the shelf life of these oils.
However, this refining process creates trans fats, a type of unsaturated fat that is detrimental to our health, especially when consumed in large amounts.
Trans fats, along with a high omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio found in these oils, disrupt our body's metabolic processes. They contribute to inflammation and imbalance cytokine production, which are crucial in our body's immune response and healing processes.
Long-term consumption of these fats is linked to various health hazards, including an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and other chronic conditions.
To provide a comparison, I've included olive oil in the graphic. Unlike these refined oils, olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil, is less processed and contains healthy fats. It has a more balanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio and doesn't contain trans fats, making it a much better choice for your health.
In the posts below, I will delve into the history of vegetable oils and explain the mechanisms that make these seed oils extremely harmful.
#2 Did you know that vegetable oils such as soybean, sunflower, and corn oil are commonly used in cooking and processed foods? These oils are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). While omega-6 fats are necessary for our health, having too much of them, especially from processed vegetable oils, is problematic, to say the least.
When vegetable oils are processed and heated, such as during cooking or manufacturing, it initiates a process called lipid peroxidation. This is where the fats in the oils react with oxygen, similar to how iron rusts when exposed to air and moisture. In the case of these oils, lipid peroxidation leads to the creation of several harmful byproducts, including a particularly nasty compound called 4-HNE.
4-HNE is a major issue because it's highly reactive. It can easily interact with various parts of our cells, like proteins, DNA, and other fats, causing them to malfunction. Over time, this damage significantly contributes to a range of diseases, such as heart disease, certain types of cancer, diabetes, and even brain-related diseases like Alzheimer's.
So, the bottom line is that the processing of vegetable oils leads to increased lipid peroxidation, resulting in higher levels of harmful compounds like 4-HNE in our bodies. That's why you should avoid vegetable oils at all costs. In the attached video clip, @TuckerGoodrich explains why the consumption of vegetable oils can lead to weight gain and severely impact your health.
#3 The prevalence of vegetable oils in processed foods is staggering due to their cost-effectiveness. But how often do you take a moment to read the small print on the back of a product? Here's a simple rule: whenever you spot "vegetable oil" in the ingredients, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE.
💡 Now, let's delve into the history of why vegetable oils became so prevalent a century ago. Back in 1900, an entirely different story was unfolding across the ocean. The German army was actively seeking a synthetic lubricant for diesel engines used in submarines. In 1902, the German chemist Wilhelm Normann achieved a groundbreaking milestone by successfully solidifying vegetable oils. At the same time, the United States was grappling with a surplus of cotton production, leading to a dilemma on how to utilize the waste streams, especially the seeds. Instead of discarding them, someone had the brilliant idea to extract oil from these seeds. However, there was a significant hurdle to overcome – the presence of a toxin called gossypol within the cotton seeds.
🔥 To rid the oil of toxins like gossypol found in cotton seeds, a refining process involving high heat, chemicals, and immense pressure was employed. Yet, this process had its own set of problems. Exposure to high heat during refining made the oil prone to oxidation, leading to the accumulation of free radicals, which harm cells and contribute to illness and aging, as explained in a previous post.
🕰️ Around 1920, this product was transformed into something you might recognize today as 'Crisco,' an abbreviation for Crystalized Cottonseed Oil. But eventually, soybean oil emerged as a cheaper alternative. Remember, in the world of business, profits often take precedence over people's health.
Watch the whole video about ‘The $100 Billion Dollar Ingredient Making Your Food Toxic’ here:
#4 It's crucial to be well-informed about the foods we consume, and vegetable oils are no exception. As mentioned in the tweets above, these oils, widely used in processed foods, have been linked to numerous health problems, impacting billions of lives each year.
The vegetable oil industry is massive, with $100 billion at stake. Unfortunately, politicians and policymakers often prioritize economic interests over public health. Instead of dismantling the harmful vegetable oil industry and banning its use in foodstuffs, they insisted the world needed to lock down for a virus that turned out to be much less lethal than claimed, introducing measures that caused more harm than good.
👉 This means that corrupt politicians don't care about our health; they actually want us sick or even dead. So it's up to you to take your health into your own hands. You can do this by staying informed and reading my tweets or those of my start-up and health blog @sunfluencer, and, most importantly, by avoiding processed foodstuffs of any kind. Contrary to common belief, it is not only healthier but also more cost-effective. Your health is worth more than being lazy and enriching those who want you sick. Resist - avoid vegetable oils!
#5 Last but not least, it is time for some good old name and shame. Did you know that the following products are guilty of this?
▪️ Most of the mayonnaise in the supermarket contains soybean oil. I wonder if @Hellmanns will ever explain why they are poisoning their own customers!?
▪️ Fries like McCain fries (@mccainglobal) are almost always pre-fried and often contain multiple omega-6-rich vegetable oils. Many people believe that preparing fries in an air fryer is healthy, but unfortunately, that's a myth.
▪️ While Italian pizzerias use olive oil, pizza fast-food chains use soybean oil instead. For example, at @dominos, the dough, tomato sauce, and dipping sauce all contain soybean oil. This is why pizza lovers in Italy are usually slim, while in the USA, they are often obese.
▪️ What's truly alarming is that they don't hesitate to poison even our youngest. Similac (@AbbottNews) baby formula is packed with harmful substances, including safflower and soy oil.
The best thing you can do is avoid processed food altogether. And if you still feel the need for it, please check the ingredients when shopping. The power lies with us consumers, and companies that shamelessly play with our health should no longer profit.
Cheers,
Simon (@goddeketal)
P.S. If you found this thread useful, please give it a share and me a follow.
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