We have likely spoken about the importance and benefits of healthy fats and oils. Healthy oils include olive oil, avocado oil coconut oil, almond oil, almond oil, and coconut oil. But we haven’t discussed the potential negative effects of consuming less healthy oil. The evil canola oil.
Health tip: Get rid of that huge bottle of toxic vegetable oil that’s been sitting in your pantry for years. Canola oil contains fundamental elements that can be poisonous for humans.
Did you ever wonder where canola oil comes from? It is not made from canola. Canola oil is not even a thing. Canola oil was originally known as LEAR (low-erucic acid, rapeseed) when it became popular after WWII. Because erucic acid can be poisonous and rapeseed isn’t very appealing, it was quickly changed to canola oil. This was mainly for marketing purposes.
It seems like a good idea. Would you like to consume erucic acid from rapeseed?
This is the reason canola oil comes from rapeseeds, which are derived from rape plants. Erucic acid is not something we should be eating. Rodents have shown that erucic acid can cause fatty deposits in their heart, muscles, and adrenals. This impairs their growth.
People began to be afraid of the erucic acids in canola oil as it became more popular. Canola and plant oil producers began programs to lower the amount of erucic acids in rapeseed oils. In Canada, 95 percent of rapeseed oils were considered low-erucic acid by 1974. This means that it was safe to consume.
Even though less than 2 percent might be safe or won’t cause you any harm, I ask you: Why would anyone want to eat oil with 2 percent poison? Why not aim for healthier oils with less poison?
OK, you can leave …. the erucic acid.
Canola oil is also highly processed. In 2005, 87 percent of American canola oil had been found to have genetically modified content. By 2009, 90% of Canadian canola oils had been genetically engineered.
Canola oil, a refined oil, is made by bleaching and degumming the oil at high temperatures using chemicals. Canola oil, which is rich in Omega-3 fatty acid, can become rancid and smelly. It must be deodorized before being sold. This involves converting some Omega-3 fats into trans fatty acid.
Although we believe canola oil contains less than 0.2% trans fat, University of Florida research has shown that canola oils can contain as much as 3.6 percent. Another study, published in the Journal of Food Lipids found that trans fat levels in canola oils ranged from 0.56% to 4.2%. These levels are not listed on the label.
This can have serious health implications. Canola oil is believed to have two dangers:
GMOs are bad for your liver and kidneys… and all kinds of other things
GMOs can also cause an increase in cancer risk, antibiotic resistance, allergic reactions and a suppression of the immune system.
Hydrogenation is Bad for the Heart
Partial hydrogenation (as with canola oil) has been associated with inflammation and calcification in the arteries. These are two known dangers that could lead to heart disease.
Furthermore, oil that has been hydrogenated often contains trans fats. These are known to raise your bad cholesterol (LDL), and lower your good cholesterol (HDL). This is bad news for developing heart disease.
Finally, for what it’s worth, animal studies have shown links between canola oil and strokes, as well as to high blood pressure.
This post was written by Darryl Johnson, Co-Owner of Apex performance. At Apex performance we are a community of highly trained experts looking to provide performance enhancement and a permanent lifestyle change for our clients in a fun and interactive environment. Members can take advantage of one-on-one training, small group classes and specialized courses for a wide variety of athletics, sports training and body goals! Click Here to learn more!
