There’s been a lot of talk about seed oils over the last several years, with a heavy focus on their potentially harmful fat profile.
While it’s true that seed oils are high in omega-6 fats, most people aren’t aware of the toxic insults hiding in processed seed oils. Due to contamination, the way they’re processed, and the soils they’re grown in, seed oils are full of pesticides, heavy metals, and more.
In this article, we’ll discuss:
- The issue with seed oils and omega-6 fats
- Why a strange chemical called hexane is lurking in most oils
- How seed oils have become toxic wastelands
- Why animal fat may not be the answer you were looking for
- The best cooking fat alternatives
- The one most powerful thing you can do to combat toxins in cooking fats
Seed Oils and Omega-6 Fats
It seems that every time you tap into the health and wellness space these days you’ll find someone talking about the dangers of seed oils. Most of the time, they’re referring to the fatty acid profile of these oils, which is much higher in omega-6 fats then omega-3 fats.
Why does this matter?
Research suggests that our ancestors consumed a diet with a good balance of omega-3 to omega-6. In fact, some studies suggest that it was once a 1:1 ratio[1].
Today, however, that ratio has shifted—drastically. It’s estimated that the Standard American Diet consists of a ratio of around 20:1, with omega-6 fats taking the lead[2].
Omega-3 fats are naturally anti-inflammatory, while omega-6 fats are naturally pro-inflammatory (in most cases). Both omega-6 and omega-3 fats are critical for healthy cellular function, but the balance of these two fatty acids is crucial for overall health. When omega-6 fats dominate, it drives inflammation in our body and can create a slew of downstream issues related to the altered immune response[3].
So, why are we consuming so much omega-6 today?
The primary reason is that seed oils such as canola oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, and so on are being used much more prominently today than ever before. Why? Because they’re cheap.
Even one hundred years ago, we would see our ancestors using fat like butter and tallow more often. Today, however, you’re much more likely to see a bottle of canola or safflower oil sitting around.
Furthermore, due to increased processed food consumption, these seed oils are sneaking into our diets in unlikely places. So even if you choose to cook with butter or a higher quality oil, you’re likely still getting omega-6 from seed oils in your snacks, sauces, and so on.
However, as mentioned, the issue of omega-6 in seed oils is really only the tip of the iceberg, so let’s take a look at what most people aren’t talking about: seed oil contaminants.
The Lesser-Known Dangers of Seed Oils: Contaminants
Hexane
What is hexane, and what is it doing in your cooking oil?
Hexane is a chemical that’s used as a solvent in the processing of seed oils to extract the oil from the seed matter. As an extracting agent, hexane separates the oil from the seed, making it viable to bottle and sell.
The problem is that once hexane is finished doing its job of extraction, it sticks around in the oil, making it a problematic contaminant. And since it falls under the category of a “processing aid,” it does not need to show up on the food label.
While hexane has an affinity for many organs, including the liver, the kidneys, and the lungs, the primary health concern with hexane is its neurotoxic effects on the brain and nervous system. In fact, in the EU, hexane is listed as a cause of occupational diseases where people come into contact with this compound regularly[4].
However, studies show that even people with low-level, non-occupational exposure can have high levels of this toxic compound in their urine (likely due to hexane’s presence in our food supply)[5].
Some symptoms associated with hexane toxicity include:
- Numbness
- Motor issues
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Muscle weakness
- Inflammation of the peripheral nerves
In addition to its effects in the nervous system, studies have also shown hexane’s detrimental impacts on the endocrine system, reproductive system, DNA, and several organs including the liver and kidneys[6][7][8][9].
The fact that this chemical is allowed to be used in our food supply is, in a word, shocking.
Heavy Metals
Heavy metals are another contaminant found in seed oils. Heavy metals may be present in the soil in which the seed oil plant is grown, or they may come from the fertilizers used for these plants. Another common route for contamination is in the processing of the oils due to the production process and equipment used.
Research shows that lead, mercury, and cadmium are all heavy metals commonly found in seed oils, likely due to the machinery used in the processing steps[10][11].
Arsenic is another heavy metal commonly found in seed oils, which could be due to soil contamination[12][13].
Our environment is already teeming with heavy metals, which makes their presence in seed oils no surprise. But with the frequency with which seed oils are consumed, it certainly makes it a serious concern.
Heavy metals do not belong in our bodies, and there are endless studies showing the harmful effects of these toxins. One of the biggest issues with heavy metals is that they are challenging to get rid of. Once they’ve made a home in your body, they like to stick around for decades, even lifetimes.
Just a handful of health concerns related to the heavy metals found in seed oils include[14][15][16][17]:
- Reproductive harm
- Endocrine disruption
- Neurological disease
- Organ toxicity
- DNA damage
For a more in-depth dive on each of these metals, check out the following articles:
Pesticides
Like all other conventionally grown foods, seed oils are also contaminated with pesticides, with residues that remain throughout the manufacturing process. Pesticides and insecticides are
meant to kill off prey and protect the plant—but what do they do once they’re inside our bodies?
Much like heavy metals, pesticides may impact several systems in the body including reproductive, genetic, endocrine, neurological, and more[18].
Furthermore, many seed oils are genetically modified (GMO) to increase crop yield. This means that these crops are also sprayed with glyphosate, a highly toxic herbicide linked to several diseases and serious health conditions, particularly in the nervous system[19][20].
Are Animal Fats The Solution?
With all of the buzz around seed oils, many people have turned to animal fats as a safe-haven against omega-6.
But here’s the problem:
While animal fats like tallow, lard, and butter are certainly much lower in omega-6 fats than seed oils, they have their own toxic concerns that, once again, no one seems to be talking about.
Let’s look at tallow, for example.
Tallow is rendered animal fat, primarily coming from beef. Solid at room temperature, tallow is mostly made up of saturated fats, with very little omega-6. From a fatty acid perspective, tallow passes the test, but when we look at tallow from a toxin potentially—it’s a very different story.
And here’s why:
When humans or animals ingest toxins, our very smart bodies store the toxic insults in our fat tissue (as much as possible). While some toxins will make it to your organs and tissues, your body’s first effort will be to shuttle those toxins away in fat.
Why?
Because this is the safest place in your body for toxins. Unlike organ systems that are constantly churning away different nutrients and dumping them into your bloodstream, fat stores are relatively stable with their contents (unless you lose weight). And since fat tissue isn’t very metabolically active, it’s unlikely that the toxins stored without your fat tissue will cause much local harm.
This is an excellent setup for our bodies, and we should be eternally grateful for this fat function.
But what happens when we decide to eat animal fat?
Well, think about all of the toxic insults that cows come into contact with: pesticides, heavy metals, antibiotics, hormones, and the list goes on. Unless those cows are organic and 100% grass-fed and grass-finished, then they’re getting more toxins pumped into their bodies every day than you and I ever will. And you know exactly where the majority of those toxins are going—to their fat stores.
Beef farmers then go ahead and render that fat, jar it, sell it, and we pick it up at the grocery store and consume it.
The same goes for lard, which is just the pork version of tallow.
What’s incredibly concerning is that today, we see a lot of restaurants going “seed oil-free” and replacing the seed oils with tallow. Do you think those restaurants are shelling out the big bucks for 100% organic grass-fed tallow? Highly doubtful.
So instead of getting omega-6 and a handful of toxins from seed oils, we’re getting a hefty dose of toxins from tallow and lard.
At this point, you may be wondering if butter is any better.
While butter is less likely to hold massive amounts of toxins, it certainly has the potential for contamination. But even more troublesome is that most conventional butter is loaded with hormones and antibiotics[21][22].
Unless you can clearly read “hormone and antibiotic free” on the label, just assume they’re in there.
So where does this leave us? It sounds like a damned if we do, damned if we don’t situation—but there are solutions.
First, let’s talk about how to choose high-quality fats.
How To Choose High-Quality Fats
There are several things you can look for when buying cooking fats for your home, below are the top four to be aware of:
#1. Look for oils that are high in omega-9 or saturated fat
Omega-9 fats don’t get nearly the attention they deserve. These fatty acids provide a range of health benefits, including their anti-inflammatory activity, and they also help oils to become more heat stable.
While oils rich in omega-3 are very unstable, due to the chemical structure of omega-9 fats, they’re able to withstand more heat and therefore produce fewer toxic byproducts when cooked.
Avocado oil is one of the best examples of high omega-9 oil, and it also has a balanced ratio of omega-3 and omega-6, making it ideal if you want to steer clear of animal fat.
Coconut oil, on the other hand, is rich in saturated fat, which also works really well in high heat. Coconut oil also provides medium-chain triglycerides that support metabolic health and immunity[23][24].
#2. Look for oils that are organic and not hexane extracted
High quality olive oil is still an excellent source of omega-3s, and the above-mentioned coconut and avocado oil are safe bets too. That is, unless they’re hexane extracted.
Generally speaking, these oils should all be organic. Organic products are not allowed to use hexane extraction (or be genetically modified), so choosing organic products with your oils is crucial.
#3. Focus on animal fat quality
The tallow industry is booming right now due to the seed oil free agenda, but most companies are not using organic, 100% grass-fed tallow. While many people are tossing a “health halo” on anything that’s not seed oils, keep in mind that tallow is literally a receptacle for toxins in these animals body’s.
The same goes for lard.
#4. Look for hormone and antibiotic free butter
As for butter, you’ll find safety in the organic label once again, as organic butter is not allowed to include any added hormones or antibiotics. Unless you clearly see “organic” or “antibiotic and hormone free” on the label, steer clear.
Mitigating The Impact of Animal Fats and Oils
Taking steps to ensure your home cooking is seed oil and toxin-free is critical. But what about when you eat out or grab a snack that contains these types of fats?
The truth is that unless we’re making all of our own food, we’re going to consume some seed oils and low-quality animal fats, it’s just how life is in the world we live in today.
The good news is that it’s not the end of the world, as long as we make a conscious effort to balance our diets, and help our bodies release any toxins we do ingest.
That’s why I created Daily Detox. Daily Detox is a gentle, yet highly effective formula packed with nutrient-rich superfoods that work with your body’s natural detoxification processes. Even if you have your cooking fat routine dialed-in, toxins like pesticides and heavy metals are so deeply embedded in our food supply that it would be impossible to avoid them altogether.
While a yearly cleanse is always a nice idea, with Daily Detox you assist your body in releasing what doesn’t belong, every day. Toxins don’t just sneak in once a year, so we need to keep our detox pathways running all the time. I like to think of this formula as a little peace of mind in a world that’s riddled with toxic insults.
Takeaway
We’ll likely continue to hear about the dangers of seed oils, but hopefully the story around toxic animal fats will catch up. While one isn’t necessarily worse than the other, it’s important that the public be aware of the real issues with both.
The good news is that once you know what to look for, there are actually several healthy options out there for cooking fats. Organic butter, grass-fed tallow, and organic avocado oil are a handful.
But as always, what we do at home is only half the battle. Unless we’re cooking every meal for ourselves, we’re still going to come into contact with these low quality fats on a regular basis, so keeping your body’s detox systems running smoothly is as crucial now as ever.
*These statements have not been reviewed by the FDA. The information herein is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Nor is it meant to replace or act as a substitute for speaking to a medical doctor and/or licensed health practitioner. Any products discussed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. They are not intended to replace any medication, medical test(s), or healing modality prescribed by your medical doctor. Please consult with your doctor before beginning a new supplement regimen.
