Most people want to be healthier. Often, this comes from wanting to be a better mother, a better husband, etc. The problem is that in the United States, the advice you are getting pushed in your face from so-called experts is often wrong and potentially harmful. I’m here to help you sort fact from fiction in the nutrition world.
If you missed the first post in our “6 Lies the USDA is Telling You” series, you can read it here: https://djconstruction.com/6-lies-usda-telling-part-1/. Today, we will cover lies three and four.
3. Seed Oils (canola, corn, soybean, etc.) are healthy choices for cooking.
Seed oils are extremely problematic. Because of the USDA’s incorrect assessment that saturated fat is inherently bad, it has lead them to the point of recommending these dangerous oils. The USDA says that they are healthier because they contain mostly monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Why is this a problem? Well, polyunsaturated fats are highly unstable and in the presence of heat, they go bad very quickly. So that means cooking with them is a very bad idea, unless of course you enjoy consuming rancid fat. Vegetables oils are also highly processed and contain a high-percentage of Omega 6 fatty acids. We already have far too much Omega 6 in our typical western diet, and more just adds fuel to the fire of inflammation throughout your body.
4. Saturated Fat is the root cause of heart disease.
This is a reductionist view and completely false. Saturated fat is not the primary culprit in heart attacks. I know I know, we have all had it pounded into our heads that saturated fat causes heart attacks. Anyone that has ever used a “George Forman” grill has seen all that fat drain off the meat and collect and harden in the catch pan. So for years, we assumed that the same thing happens when we eat it. But, that’s just not how it works. When you eat red meat for instance, your body begins breaking it down and delivering the nutrients to where they are needed. This includes the fat. Because unlike what we were all told, fat contains nutrients too. Therefore it is also broken down and distributed elsewhere throughout the digestive process rather than being left to clog our arteries. My love of saturated fat does not extend however, to consuming them through eating highly processed foods like candy bars, donuts, and even fake foods like margarine. The saturated fats I am in favor of come from “real food” like beef, coconut, lard, and butter. Do not be scared of these.
For additional information on the points discussed today, visit the following links on Seed Oils and Saturated Fat.
Stay tuned for Part 3!
About Matt:
Matt is an avid sports fan and loves playing basketball, volleyball and golf whenever possible. He spent a number of years working as an assistant golf professional and currently manages Business Development at DJ Construction. He received his CrossFit Level 1 Certificate in January of 2013. Matt has made it his mission to figure out how to make fitness a sustainable life-long pursuit for everyone. In July 2012, Matt married his awesome wife, Abby. They attend and are involved at Sugar Grove Church in Goshen.
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