Some of these oils are healthy and some are VERY unhealthy — soybean oil, olive oil, coconut oil, corn oil, etc… Let’s take a closer look.

By: Mike Geary – Certified Nutrition Specialist and Author of The Diabetes Fix and The Truth About Testosterone

Today, I wanted to give you my take on a confusing subject to most people:

Why some oils and fats you may use in cooking, baking, or other food use are actually harmful to your body, and why some are healthful.

Here’s the deal…

A lot of people seem to think that anything labeled as “vegetable oil” is good for you. NOT A SHOT!

Most of what is labeled as “vegetable oil” is simply heavily refined soybean oil (processed under high heat, pressure, and industrial solvents, such as hexane)… sometimes perhaps it may also be heavily refined cottonseed, safflower, corn, grapeseed, or other oils too.

In most instances, almost all of these processed oils are NOT HEALTHY for you. I’ll explain why below…

If you buy processed food or deep fried food, you can usually be certain that these unhealthy oils are used to prepare your foods (or worse, it may use hydrogenated versions of these oils… aka – trans fats).

You may have even bought some of these oils for your own cooking or baking at home.

The problem with soybean oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, safflower oil, and other similar “vegetable oils” is that they are mostly composed of polyunsaturated fats (the most highly reactive type of fat) which leaves them prone to oxidation and free radical production when exposed to heat and light.

Processed polyunsaturated oils are the most inflammatory inside our bodies because of their high reactivity to heat and light. This inflammation is what causes many of our internal problems to develop such as heart disease, cancer, and other degenerative diseases.

Note: It’s ok if a polyunsaturated fat source isn’t processed such as in whole foods like various nuts and seeds… In that case it’s usually not inflammatory (as long as it’s not been exposed to high heat), and nuts are usually a great source of healthy polyunsaturated fats. By the way, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are both polyunsaturates, and a healthy balance of approx 1:1 to 3:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 is considered healthiest.

Your best bet is to choose raw nuts and seeds whenever possible to avoid the oxidation of polyunsaturated fats that can occur during roasting of nuts and seeds. Keep in mind though that some nuts are mostly monounsaturated, (for example, macadamias), so the issue of roasted vs raw nuts is less of an issue for highly monounsaturated nuts.

However, all of the vegetable oils listed above are generally heavily refined during processing, so that makes them already inflammatory before you even cook with them (which does even more damage).

Here’s the actual order of stability of a type of fat under heat and light (from least stable to most stable):

1. polyunsaturated
2. monounsaturated
3. saturated

Here’s something that mainstream health professionals will never tell you…

Saturated fats are actually the healthiest oils to cook with!

Why? Because they are much more stable in cooking conditions and less inflammatory than polyunsaturated oils with cooking.

This is why tropical oils such as palm and coconut oils (and even animal fats such as lard and butter) are best for cooking… they have very little polyunsaturates and are mostly composed of natural saturated fats which are the least reactive to heat/light and therefore the least inflammatory in your body from cooking use.

That’s also why natural butter (NOT margarine) is one of the best fats for cooking. This all goes directly against what you hear in mainstream health talk… because most health professionals don’t truly understand the biochemistry of fats, and falsely believe that saturated fats are bad for you… when in fact, they are actually neutral in most instances… and saturated fats from tropical oils are actually good for you as they contain mostly medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) which are lacking in most people’s diets.

In fact, lauric acid is one of the abundant MCTs in tropical oils and is known to strengthen the immune system. Lauric acid is even being studied currently in medical studies for controlling contagious diseases.

To summarize… your best cooking or baking fats are generally butter or tropical oils such as palm or coconut oil.

Olive oil (extra virgin preferably) is okay for lower cooking temps as it’s mostly monounsaturated, so moderately stable. I also like avocado oil and macadamia nut oil for baking as they are mostly monounsaturated and relatively stable for baking, plus add great flavor!

The mostly polyunsaturated oils such as soybean, corn, grapeseed, cottonseed, safflower, etc, are the least healthy for cooking or baking.

My choices for top healthy cooking oils that I use:

• Virgin Coconut Oil (very stable at med-high temps and healthy fats)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (only for low temp cooking)
• Real Butter (grass fed butter is actually healthy and contains important nutrients like vitamin K2, omega-3’s, and CLA. Kerry gold is a popular brand of Irish butter that’s grass-fed and readily available in most grocery stores)

Of course, with all of that said… we should keep in mind that trying minimize our cooking with oils can help to reduce overall calories. Cooking with oils in moderation is okay and can actually help satisfy your appetite more, but be careful not to overdo it as the calories can add up fast.

Also, please don’t be fooled by deceptive marketing claiming that canola oil is healthy for you — it’s NOT!

So enjoy your coconut oil, grass-fed butter, and delicious extra-virgin olive oils knowing that you’re doing your body GOOD! But just make sure to stay FAR AWAY from dangerous inflammatory vegetable oils like soybean oil, corn oil, and cottonseed oils which are used in so many processed foods these days.

Also remember that most salad dressings you find at the store are loaded with unhealthy soybean or canola oils usually, so make your own with healthy olive oil instead.

Speaking of your brain health, check this really cool story out…

This 3-Minute Bizarre Song Boosts Your Memory

Researchers at Harvard made an accidental discovery…

They found a bizarre melody that makes your brain process information up to 3X faster.

How is this possible?

It turns out this specific sequence of sounds activates an ancient “speed protein” in your brain…

The same protein that allows 20-year-olds to think and learn so quickly.

Over 16,366 people are already using this strange melody to:

• Process information faster
• Think with crystal clarity
• Remember names instantly
• Focus like a 20-year-old
• Feel mentally sharper

All you have to do is…

>> Relax and listen to this 3-minute melody to boost your brain power

The post Which of these cooking oils are destroying your health? (the truth may surprise you!) appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.

Today’s blog is republished from my friends at Paleohacks, a leading publisher of daily alternative health tips that I personally read every day. You can find the original article here…

By: Megan Patiry

Black seed oil, or Nigella Sativa, comes from the seeds of the Nigella Sativa plant. Native to Asia, historical accounts date the use of its seeds as far back as ancient Egypt.

Folklore from the surroundings regions, including Indian and Arabic civilizations, refer to the tiny seeds as “Habbatul barakah” (seed of blessing) for their ability to ease indigestion, treat asthma, bronchitis, rheumatism, diarrhea, and even energize the body and ease “dispiritedness” (1).

Today, these claims seem to withstand the tests of an impressive amount of present-day studies. Black seed oil’s main phytochemical compounds, thymoquinone, thymohydroquinone, and thymol, have been shown to have an astounding number of benefits, from being potent antifungals to possible contenders in the fight against Alzheimer’s and autism (2, 3).

Black Seed Oil Benefits

Below we’ll take a look at the top nine benefits of black seed oil, breaking down exactly why these little seeds hold so much power.

1. Black Seed Oil May Prevent Diabetes

Black seed oil shows huge promise when it comes to preventing and managing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. One study out of the Indian Council of Medical Research found that black seed oil actually caused a partial “regeneration” of pancreatic cells, lowered previously elevated serum glucose levels, and lowered serum insulin concentrations (4).

In the same study, researchers also mentioned that black seeds improved glucose tolerance as well as the major type 2 diabetes drug metformin without the nasty side effects of stomach pain, bloating, headaches, heartburn, and flushing (5). Of course, you’ll want to speak to your doctor before quitting any medications.

2. Black Seed Oil Has Anti-Cancer Properties

If research has anything to say about black seed oil, it’s that it is a potent cancer cell fighter. Studies have shown its active compound, thymoquinone, reduces malignant colon tumor sizes, induces cell death in pancreatic and breast cancer cells, and has anti-metastatic actions (i.e., helps stop the spears of cancers) (6).

One study also mentioned that the combination of thymoquinone with standard cancer treatments like chemotherapy could actually reduce the toxicity of chemo and make treatments more effective (7).

Combined with chemotherapy, black seed oil can make cancer treatment more effective.

Interestingly, scientists from another study mentioned that thymoquinone and thymohydroquinone’s antitumor effects may be dose-dependent, stating: “The results indicate that THQ antitumor activity may be improved with further dose increase of the investigated substance.” This was after also discovering that these two compounds resulted in a 52 percent decrease in tumor cells (8).

Now, we all know that the positive results of these studies don’t necessarily mean that black seed oil is a definite cancer cure for everyone. However, it does give us a great starting point in using this oil as an alternative treatment.

3. Black Seed Oil Protects Against Liver Damage

Black seed oil has been shown to protect against liver damage from hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury while also protecting liver tissue against the effects of toxic metals. It has even been shown to create a protective effect against radioactive chemicals, including cadmium, by rejuvenating the antioxidants that were depleted after exposure to the chemicals (9).

4. Black Seed Oil Has Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Black seed oil has also been shown to have powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Osteoporosis (which is heavily linked to inflammation) is just one of the ailments researchers put up to bat against black seed oil, and they found that its thymoquinone content inhibited a wide variety of substances that cause inflammation (10).

In addition, scientists also discovered thymoquinone’s ability to inhibit molecules that cause allergic airway inflammation in the lungs (the kind that you might experience in an allergic reaction) (11).

5. Black Seed Oil Promotes Skin Health

Applying black seed oil topically also appears to have endless benefits. In the case against acne, researchers discovered that application of the oil resulted in reduction of lesions in just two months, attributing the results to black seed oil’s antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects (12).

Apply black seed oil topically to reduce acne.

In a separate study, black seed oil was also shown to inhibit skin cancer cells in mice; it delayed “papilloma formation and reduced the number of papillomas per mouse” (13).

The fact that black seed oil is anti-inflammatory and shows a good amount of antioxidant activity also makes it great for use as an anti-aging moisturizer.

6. Black Seed Oil Has Antibacterial & Antifungal Properties

Antibacterial and antifungal resistance is a well-known problem in the medical field today. As a result, scientists have started looking outside the box of traditional western therapies (i.e., antibiotics) for answers.

Black seed oil emerged as one of the most promising. Researchers in one study discovered its active components thymol, thymoquinone, and thymohydroquinone were 100 percent effective in inhibiting 30 different pathogens (14).

It has also been found in several other studies to inhibit the growth of candida yeasts and Staphylococcus aureus (staph) infection (15, 16). This is powerful news, since candida overgrowth has become very common due to modern diets high in processed sugars, as well as the fact that staph infections are also common in hospitals.

7. Black Seed Oil Promotes Weight Loss

While oils aren’t the first substances that come to mind when we think of weight loss, it turns out that black seed oil could play a role in fighting obesity. Researchers believe its ability to improve glucose tolerance, enhance liver health, decrease inflammation, and regulate glucose levels all play a role in helping the body return to a normal weight.

Black seed oil regulates glucose levels, helping you lose weight!

After all, our ability to optimize our glucose levels and use carbohydrates efficiently plays a huge role in obesity and insulin resistance, so weight loss could be a likely side effect of improving these factors (17). And the best part about optimizing our glucose levels? No fad diets required!

8. Black Seed Oil Boosts Immunity

Consuming black seed oil may also be an effective way to naturally increase your immunity. Studies show black seed oil enhances natural killer T cells (cells that fight viral infections) while also having the ability to restore resistance against lethal infections (18, 19).

Black seed oil’s effect on the immune system is even powerful enough to protect against radiation. One study found, “N. sativa oil is a promising natural radioprotective agent against immunosuppressive and oxidative effects of ionizing radiation” (20).

9. Black Seed Oil Fights Allergies

Black seed oil also appears to be an effective remedy against allergy symptoms.

One study found that patients suffering from allergic rhinitis (and everything that comes with it, like runny and itchy noses, sneeze attacks, excess mucous and congestion) found relief after being exposed to black seed oil for just two weeks. Researchers attributed these results to black seed oil’s powerful anti-inflammatory effects (21).

Where to Get Black Seed Oil

With benefits like these, it’s safe to say we’re all looking forward to cherishing a bottle of black seed oil for ourselves. Luckily, it can be purchased online directly with Activation Products Black Seed Oil or through sites like Amazon. Various health food retailers may also carry black seed oil capsules, if you’re looking for something in pill form.

What to Look For

Just like any other oil, there are a few important things to look for when purchasing black seed oil:

• Cold-pressed
• No additives
• Organic
• Packaged in dark glass (to protect from rancidity)

Also keep in mind that black seed oil has a number of different names, including black oil, black cumin oil, etc., so be sure to check the ingredient list for purity before purchasing.

How to Use Black Seed Oil

For internal use, you can either take a teaspoon or tablespoon of black seed oil straight, or drizzle it on a salad or on veggies in place of olive oil. For skin and hair, this oil makes an excellent moisturizer. Apply to a clean face to use as a nourishing moisturizer at night, or apply to scalp and hair ends for a few minutes before showering to boost shine.

The amount of studies on black seed oil are not only impressive, but the fact that most of them show significant positive results is extremely encouraging for researchers looking into ancient methods of healing. After all, the discovery of black seed oil and its proven benefits have shown us there is credibility to ancient medicinal writings and techniques.

One thing is for sure: the benefits of black seed oil truly gives it the well-deserved title of “seeds of blessings.”

The post Black Seed Oil: Benefits, where to find it, and how to use it appeared first on thenutritionwatchdog.com.