Southern Maryland, where I live, was once a premier tobacco growing region. Then, in the 1980s, when the dangers of cigarette smoking became clear, Maryland introduced a cigarette buyback program. Tobacco farmers have received large payments for 10 consecutive years on the condition that they never grow tobacco again.
The problem is that most of what replaced tobacco was soybeans, a crop that is much more carcinogenic and dangerous than tobacco. The field of lung cancer has become the field of all types of cancer.
Soybean Oil May Promote Cancer
The most commonly used oil in the United States is soybean oil. Soybean oil is highly unsaturated. That is, it contains mostly omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and about 10% omega-3 fatty acids. These types of fat molecules break down into highly reactive free radicals and aldehydes during high-temperature processing and even during high-temperature frying. Omega-6 definitely breaks down, but even more so does omega-3, which is very fragile.
It's a well-known secret that many studies have linked the consumption of polyunsaturated oils to cancer. Other studies have shown that saturated fats (healthy fat alternatives to soybean oil) found in coconut oil, butter, lard and beef tallow may protect against cancer.
All industrially processed oils, especially soybean oil, are carcinogenic. But there are more problems with this ubiquitous food ingredient. Soybean oil also disturbs the mind.
Effects of soybean oil diet on health
In 2015, researchers at the University of California, Riverside compared mice fed four different diets of the same number of calories. Diet high in soybean oil; Coconut oil diet and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS); and a soybean oil diet and a diet containing HFCS.One
Rats fed diets high in soybean oil with or without HFCS had increased body weight gain, adiposity, diabetes, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance. Additionally, abnormalities occurred in the liver, including fatty liver. In general, these problems did not occur in mice that consumed large amounts of coconut oil.
Two years later, the researchers repeated the study using soybean oil that had been genetically modified to lower its polyunsaturated fat content.2 The oil also caused obesity and other problems in the mice, but not as severely as the original soybean oil.
These results point to polyunsaturated fatty acids, not high-fructose corn syrup, as the primary cause of the current obesity and diabetes epidemic.
In January 2020, the research team announced more bad news. Soybean oil not only causes metabolic diseases such as diabetes, but also contributes to genetic changes in the brain that can lead to conditions such as anxiety and Alzheimer's disease. Both conventional and modified soybean oil showed the same effect.three
Soybean oil has been shown to be effective for the master gland
Most seriously, researchers found that soybean oil had a pronounced effect on the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a major gland in the body. It regulates body weight, maintains body temperature, directs the formation of sex hormones, is important for physical growth, and regulates our response to stress. Soybean oil caused dysregulation of approximately 100 genes in this organ.
For example, rats fed soybean oil had reduced levels of oxytocin in the hypothalamus. Oxytocin is the “love” or “cuddle” hormone that plays a role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, childbirth, and the postnatal period.
Oxytocin stimulates milk production and helps mothers bond with their babies. Beyond procreation, oxytocin appears to play a role in reducing fear and anxiety in both men and women and protecting us from addictive behaviors.
I've often said that the hypothalamus is the seat of impulse control, and if there's one thing that characterizes today's generation of children raised on vegetable oil instead of butter and lard, it's their lack of impulse control.
Additionally, various structures in the hypothalamus appear to be related to gender confusion, including gender expression, sexual orientation, and gender transition.4
The formation of these structures begins in the uterus and continues through childhood and puberty. Is soybean oil the culprit behind the tragic situation in which many young people today feel they are of a gender that does not fit their bodies? If soybean oil affects the expression of dozens of genes in the hypothalamus, the odds are yes.
Soybean oil found in most processed foods
There are many harmful things in the modern diet, including refined sweeteners (sugar, high fructose corn syrup), MSG and artificial flavors, pasteurized and homogenized milk, modified food starches, extruded grains (breakfast cereals), glyphosate and other pesticides. . etc. — but the worst are industrially processed seed oils, especially soybean oil.
And everything has soybean oil in it! margarine and spreads; Cool Whip, creamer, mayonnaise; salad dressings and dips; chips, crackers and snack foods; Breads, donuts, cakes (especially icing) and pastries; French fries and fried chicken; Food like pizza is also available.
The only way to avoid this is to avoid processed foods and return to the healthy fats of our ancestors: mainly animal fats (butter, lard, duck fat, tallow, etc.) and traditional oils such as coconut oil and olive oil.
soybean waste
But after soybean oil is squeezed from the seeds, what's left is a high-protein residue that food processors manipulate and purify to remove the protein to create products such as soy protein isolate and soy protein concentrate.
This waste is used in numerous highly processed foods, including soy protein smoothies, energy bars, and fake meats like the Impossible Burger. Don’t believe for a moment that the companies selling these “plant-based” foods, which are good for your health and good for the planet, have any motivation other than profiting from cheap waste.
How to Eliminate Soybean Oil from Your Diet
If you've been eating the standard American diet of processed foods, cutting out vegetable oils can be a challenge. Below is a list of changes (some easy, some a little more difficult) you can make as a first step toward regaining your health. If you make just a few of these changes, your body will thank you!
| standard american diet | do this |
|---|---|
| Instead of margarine and spread | Use butter instead |
| instead of cooking oil | Cook with Lard and Bacon Fat |
| Instead of commercial salad dressing | Learn how to make your own using olive oil and vinegar |
| Instead of a cool whip | Use real fresh cream |
| Instead of non-dairy creamer | Use real cream or real half and half. |
| Instead of commercial mayonnaise | Make your own or use coconut oil-based mayonnaise. |
| Instead of commercial dips | Make your own using sour cream and other ingredients. |
| instead of chips | Regular Pork Crackling Crunch |
| Instead of regular crackers | Look for crackers made with palm oil or coconut oil. |
| Instead of processed snacks | Enjoy Cheese and Salami |
| Instead of supermarket bread | Find natural, oil-free sourdough bread using the WAPF shopping guide |
| Instead of French Fries | Try making your own french fries in the oven with lard or duck fat. |
| Instead of fast food chicken | Make it yourself and fry it in lard. |
| Pastries, cakes, donuts | Minimize it as much as possible. (Try a glass of raw milk instead!) |
| pizza | For a special treat, not every day, save up and order thin crust pizza |
The Weston A. Price Foundation has been warning the public about the dangers of industrial seed oils since its founding 20 years ago. Your membership supports this important work.
About the author
Sally Fallon Morell is the author of the best-selling cookbook “Nourishing Traditions” and several other books on diet and health. She is the founding president of the Weston A. Price Foundation (westonaprice.org) and founder of A Campaign for Real Milk (realmilk.com). Visit her blog, Nutritioningtraditions.com.
