Perhaps you are one of the many watchers of “FoodTV.” You know what they are; those channels covering 24 hour’s worth of cooking, eating, trying new foods, and featuring new products.
One of the new trends in cooking is the use of oils for different types of meals.
While using the right oil makes a huge difference in meals, not all oils are the same—and certainly not all are good for you. Here are some cooking oils that should never be used for a variety of reason.
Grapeseed Oil
Source: Grape seeds. Paleo WIN!
Process of extracting oil from seeds: pasteurizing, heating, adding chemicals and adding toxic solvents such as hexane– Paleo FAIL!
As Paleo practitioners, we attempt to imitate the dietary and eating habits of our stone age ancestors. Hexane was not on their shopping list, and neither were the processes involved in grapeseed oil extraction. Just because something comes out of a grape does not mean that it is entirely natural. I think the process of extraction killed that notion in one first blow. Try going for oils that are “pressed” rather than extracted. It is a more natural and less harmful technique that may allow for the natural properties of the seed to remain in the oil.
Palm Oil
Source: The fruit of the oil palm- Paleo check, if you live in Africa and there are tons of them to spare.
Process of extraction: By deforesting natural resources in order to farm the oil palms…only to knock them out and get oil out of them. Mega Paleo FAIL!
The key issue with a lot of people who are against Palm Oil is mainly ethical and environmental. The harvesting of certain palm oil products contributes to deforestation, which goes against the principles of many. Also, it is very high in saturated fat, which contributes to heart disease.
Soybean Oil:
Source: Soybeans, which are already not quite Paleo friendly
Process of extraction: Same as grapeseed oil, hexane included- Paleo FAIL.
When it comes to Paleo, soybean oil would be the one to avoid. It has unhealthy amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Consuming too much omega-3 causes inflammation, and this is precisely what the Paleo diet is famous for annihilating. It is also used as a preservative for foods, which is the reason why you would see it listed in a lot of the packaging of so-called “junk foods.” Makes us wonder: If this type of oil is the preferred choice for junk foods and processed foods, what exactly are we eating when we add it to our own foods?
Canola Oil
Source: Rapeseed
Process: Too long to explain- Paleo FAIL.
Let’s spell this one out. “Canola” is a marketing term extracted from the name: Canada Oil, Low Acid. This is because this rapeseed oil extract was re-mastered by Canadian food scientists, from an industrial oil into an edible oil, through specific breeding and filtering methods. Essentially, it is the same rapeseed oil, the one which had acidic and bitter substances, made less toxic. This is why canola is not the best choice for cooking: it is almost, if not entirely, processed in full.
Those familiar with the genetically modified crops artists at Monsanto already know that rapeseeds, which are not classified as healthy seeds, have been modified to resist certain pesticides. Therefore, and by default, the seeds made to create canola oil are, themselves, “Frankenseeds”; they themselves have been modified.
Always continue your research as to which is the best choice for you and your family when it comes to cooking oils. We strongly advocate the use of coconut oil for frying and cooking. It is, by far, the healthiest choice out there. Until then, continue your journey and I hope you keep Paleo fit for many years to come!
Cottonseed Oil
Source: Cotton plant
Process: Extraction- Paleo FAIL due to the nature of the oil
This type of oil, as the name implies, is extracted from the cotton plant. This may already sound strange: Oil extracted from a plant which does not grow food. Understandably, oil can be extracted out of anything, but are all oils made to be edible? This particular oil is from the same species of cotton that is grown for animal feed and for cotton fiber. Now, as inedible as this sounds, read on and wonder exactly why anyone would need (or want) cottonseed oil inside their bodies. Cottonseed oil is super high in saturated fat while the monounsaturated (healthier) fats are naturally low. Due to the nature of the plant, the oil may come with some toxins that may affect humans, and not the plant itself. Cotton fields are subjected to tons of pesticides to ensure that crops grow consistently, so that is another red flag for you: the plant will likely contain have agrichemicals.
Now, why would anyone use cottonseed oil? For once, it is cheap. Cotton fields are quite extensive and extracting anything out of such a proliferous plant would be a farmer’s dream come true. Since it is cheap, it is used in most packaged foods as a preservative to keep bagged and canned products.
Always continue your research as to which is the best choice for you and your family when it comes to cooking oils. We strongly advocate the use of coconut oil for frying and cooking. Also, always check the package of all the foods that you eat and avoid that which you do not know. Paleo is, by far, the healthiest choice out there.
Until then, continue your paleo cooking ourney and I hope you keep healthy & fit for many years to come!