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Have you ever heard of canola seed in connection with oil? You’ve probably heard of olives and coconut, but not in the case of canola, right? That’s because such a connection doesn’t exist.
Canola oil is not a natural oil pressed from seeds, but a commercial name usually for a genetically modified version of the rapeseed seed (which is toxic).
So it’s really strange why so many “natural” food stores still use canola oil in their prepared foods and other products (such as baked goods, salads, dressings and the like).
Canola oil was created in a laboratory at a Canadian university by Dr. Baldur Steffanson.
After his newly created version of the rapeseed seed managed to meet FDA guidelines (with a lower amount of the toxic erucic acid), he went to work at Calgene (which was later bought by Monsanto).
For this reason there is no such thing as “organic” or “bio” canola oil, since the raw material from which it is made is usually genetically modified rapeseed seed.
The biggest risks of canola oil
So what are the biggest health risks of consuming foods that contain canola oil?
Let’s look at a few of them:
1. Canola depletes vitamin E from the body.
2. Recent studies link canola oil to increased inflammation and oxidative stress.
3. Canola increases membrane rigidity, which can trigger degenerative diseases.
4. Because of canola’s high sulfur content the oil easily becomes rancid, which can in people with bronchial or asthmatic problems activate allergies and associated issues.
5. Human studies have shown that canola causes an increase in lung cancer and raises the risk of developing dementia.
6. In animals, canola can shorten lifespan and reduce platelet counts.
7. Daily consumption of canola oil can increase your triglycerides by more than 40%.
8. Canola oil molds quickly and also suppresses enzyme activity.
9. It opens the door to free radicals, destroys natural antioxidants, and may be linked to the rising incidence of many diseases.
10. Rancid canola oil leaves no off-flavor, so you can hardly tell whether you are consuming rancid erucic acid.
conclusion
Next time you visit a grocery store or other food or snack vendors that use canola oil, be careful not to be convinced that they are the healthiest choice in town.
Look for food and snack outlets that sell or use natural oils in their products (types that come from real plants – olive, avocado, sesame, coconut).
And most importantly, keep in mind that there is no such thing as healthy canola oil.
