DynaMOMENTS – More To Combat Resistant Weight Loss – Eliminate Seed Oils
Psalm 101:3
I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do. I will take no part in it.
My dear friends,
Let’ s continue our discussion about the man who has lost 50 pounds and has reached a weight of 275 pounds but would like to lose more. He has already given up sugar and has added fruit to his daily snack regime in place of other things he was eating. These are healthy choices for now. Today we will address the topic of seed oils, what they are and why they are bad for you AND me. This will also include discussion about Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids.
Last week, we focused on Psalm 1 as our daily guide. Continue to ponder Psalm 1. Remember, meditating on God’s Word, day and night, is profitable. The person who does this will be strong like a tree planted by the rivers of water. This person will bear fruit. This person will stand before God unashamed. Whatever this person does will prosper. Also, focus on Psalm 101. Particularly, let’s keep in mind Psalm 101:3 – “I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will take no part in it.”
Here is the springboard for our discussion: Seed oils are vile. Why are they vile? They cause stress in our bodies. Stress causes inflammation in our bodies. Inflammation is behind illness, and illness is behind disease. This in reality is why sugar is so bad, also. It also causes stress in our bodies which leads to inflammation and then disease: diseases like Type II Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, hypertension, poor immune function, Alzheimer’s, etc.
Actually, whenever we have stress – mental, physical, spiritual (absolutely any stress), we do not have peace. Our mental stress will lead to physical stress. Our physical stress will lead to mental stress. Our spiritual stress will lead to mental and physical stress. These are all related. Our brains, bodies and beliefs are intertwined; they communicate with each other. Our failure to be energetic to do God’s will, to walk patiently, to care about others, to utilize self-control to think clearly, to live a life of healthy habits and to follow other beneficial actions are affected by how we feel. If we feel stressed, if we have inflammation, if we are sick or if we are recovering from what we did the day before, we are not in a position to be our best selves – and you know what I think our best selves are – Our best selves are when we are doing God’s will. This is our reason for health.
God has a path of peace for us, and this path does not include mental stress or having a body that is inflamed, bloated, fatigued, pained, or incapable. He has good works for all of us to do. So, let’s decrease inflammation by avoiding sugar and now by avoiding seed oils.
WHAT ARE SEED OILS?
Seed oils are basically a processed ingredient added to many foods including chips, salad dressings, and other processed foods. They are even used in packaged peanuts, cashews, almonds and other types of healthy items. You will find them on the ingredient list. They are easy to spot just like sugar. Now you see why reading the ingredient labels on a product is important. This allows you to see the toxins that you are putting or might put into your body.
Seed oils are made from many different sources. They include canola oil, grape seed oil, soybean oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, palm oil, corn oil, and more. (By the way, high fructose corn syrup, though not an oil, is made from corn…not healthy for us but is used because it has low cost, is easy and makes things tasty.) Basically, any oils that are added to a product (except for olive, avocado oil or coconut oil) are inflammatory. They are NOT good for you. Avoid them. They are vile. Have not part in it. Put down the bag, the box, the product that contains them.
WHY ARE SEED OILS BAD FOR US?
Seed oils, which are high in trans fats, are bad for us because they are inflammatory, but why are they inflammatory? The reason is because they contain too many omega 6 fatty acids. Yes, we do need omega 6 fatty acids in our diets, but most Americans are actually ingesting about 10-20 times more omega 6 fatty acids than are required. This is detrimental because the ratio of omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acids in our diets should be about 3:1. Some literature indicates a ratio of possibly 4:1 and some indicates a ration of 2:1. According to researchers, we as a public are ingesting a ratio that is about 20:1, even higher. Not good. This causes inflammation in our bodies which will lead to hypertension, weight gain, obesity, water retention, poor sleep, lethargy, bloating, diabetes, arthritis, cancer and other ailments.
In addition, seed oils affect wight loss because they become toxic to the body. When the body is fighting this, it becomes even unhealthier and may be unable to release fat. If the body is stressed and unhealthy, it is less able to let go of weight. Our cell walls are damaged. Our metabolism is damaged. Our blood sugar and insulin are poorly regulated. In addition, toxins are stored in our fat. Our bodies will hold on to fat to protect us because if the fat is released, the toxins will be released, also. This could overwhelm the body. So, the body is protecting itself from this problem. It can take years to rid the body of the stored omega 6 fatty acids.
This is not healthy for us. This causes stress which leads to inflammation which leads to disease. Signs and symptoms of this omega 6 overload are high blood pressure, bloating, water retention and other health challenges. It is estimated that the half-life or omega 6 fatty acids is over 600 days. This is a long time. (Do you see how God has made our bodies to protect themselves, to help healing, to prevent problems. We are able to work with this God ordained beauty of function to repair our bodies. God has unfailing love and full redemption for us. He has a path of peace for us. BUT we must take the steps to walk in it.)
Omega 3 fatty acids, which we are able to obtain from foods like salmon and eggs, are not stored like omega 6 fatty acids. Omega 3 fatty acids are so good for us, for brain health and cardiovascular health. We need these omega 3 fatty acids, but they are not found in processed foods like omega 6 fatty acids are. We need to be intentional to add them to our diet by selecting foods which are rich in them. When we do not do this, we will end up with an omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio which is well above the 2:1 ratio which is the healthy ratio for us. Do you understand why we must decide carefully what we eat, what to avoid, what we consider to be vile?
Yes, vile. You would consider snake venom vile. You would consider a virus vile. You would consider pollution vile. Why? Because they all harm you. Some quickly; some slowly over time. Some quite apparent; some not so apparent. It is the same with the omega 6 fatty acids; it is the same with the seed oils which contain these. They do not seem to harm us, but they do. They are stored in our bodies, and it takes a long time to rid ourselves of these even when we are intentional.
SO WHY ARE THESE SEED OILS INCLUDED IN OUR FOOD?
Great question and a very fair question. These seed oils are used for a purpose and are used strategically; they are not wasted, and their optimum utilization is studied by the food manufacturers for the most lucrative profit. They simply are used because they are cheaper than using whole ingredients. They allow products to be stored in a bag or box and for easy production. They allow for a product to have a long shelf life. They also allow for more flavor and taste with different colors and textures (along with many other ingredients like food dye, preservatives and non-caking agents). In other words, they make food production easy; they make life for the consumer easy; they allow for “on the go” type of living, to support the hurried life so many are living.
In addition, the American public is misinformed; this actually, is not their/our fault. We as a country have been taught for years that certain animal-based fats (like butter and the fat from meat) are bad for us and that they cause cardiovascular disease, that they raise cholesterol and that we are better off using seed oils. This is false information. The “seed” oils – which are vegetable oils – are full of omega 6 fatty acids which as you now know are behind a lot of inflammation and a poor omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio. Most people do not know that they would do themselves a favor by concerning themselves with this information. The desire is not there because it is very difficult to resist the products and because many simply do not know. Many are fooled by the name of “vegetable oils” because it sounds healthy. BUT they are not healthy; they are refined and processed. They are not in the state which God created them.
As long as people use seed oils and the products which contain them, the food manufacturers will continue to incorporate them into what they produce to keep cost down. Until the public uses their pocketbook and uses their health concern and habits to speak what they realize, we will not see these omitted. The food manufacturers, however, will listen if they know a market for healthier options occurs.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Do yourself a huge favor today; read the food labels and the ingredient lists of everything you buy, and while you notice and flee from the sugar (and by the way, high fructose CORN syrup is a real dangerous type of sugar), notice and flee from the seed oils, also. This will help to decrease the stress and inflammation in your body. It will help to reduce calories in your body. It will help to open the door up to healthy fats and other foods which contain nutrients that nourish and heal your body. This takes time. Do not be in a rush to fix it. Be in a rush to do good to yourself; to enjoy plenty in the land of peace; to walk on the path of righteousness God has for you, a path which is full of peace, while you say, “No,” to yourself and “Yes,” to what God has for you.
So, I began today by calling out another vile ingredient. This is what I establish in my first week of the health program contained in my book, Health Through the Psalms; To Do God’s Will. I use Psalm 101 to encourage people to “clear the clutter” from their lives. In this case, sugar and seed oils are the clutter I have spoken about the past two weeks to help this man jumpstart his weight loss again. Believe me, there is still more clutter that we will address. No judgment, just facts that will help and remind all of us of the benefits of taking no part in the vile clutter that surrounds and invades our environment.
Even if you do not need to lose weight, you will do yourself a huge favor by omitting seed oils from your diet. Doing this not only helps your body to reduce the stress and inflammation behind high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, stress and other problems, it will also encourage brain health. This will lead to fighting dementia and other cognitive decline (before it happens) which many do not realize even while it begins in their younger years. Do not ignore the warning. If your body is fighting problems, and you are on medication to deal with these problems, be assured that your brain is suffering silently. The inflammation in your body damages the blood vessels in your brain as well.
Again, do not ignore the warning to omit these things which cause stress and inflammation. They attack the body in different areas, and they attack each of us differently. Don’t be the victim anymore; be the prudent person who sees the danger ahead and takes another path. This might be difficult; it might not be popular; it might mean you have to get new friends. However, it does mean that you are choosing health and God’s Will over the momentary pleasures and convenience of what is offered to us. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial. We must not be mastered by anything. Agree with the Apostle Paul here. You can do this! Read His Word and read the ingredient labels. Get the truth in you.
Seek peace and pursue, my friends. Be blameless today by omitting seed oils from your diet.
Great writing with so much information that I had knowledge of but not total understanding. Thank you for teaching!