Hey folks, Board-Certified Health Coach Chloe Maleski is here to answer your questions about seed oils. Whether you\u2019re wondering whether they\u2019re really that bad, trying to avoid them when eating out, or scouting healthier treats for kids, you\u2019ll learn some helpful tips and strategies. Got a question you\u2019d like to ask our health coaches? Leave it below in the comments or over in the Mark\u2019s Daily Apple Facebook group.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Marta asked: Sigh\u2026 I know. Highly refined seed oils are cheap and everywhere. Yes, we find them in the usual suspects: fast food, highly processed food, and most conventional food that comes packaged and ready to eat. They also hide out where less expected, including in foods marketed as \u201chealthy\u201d and at restaurants and hot bars that might otherwise pass as Primal.<\/p>\n Unfortunately, the answer to your first question is Yes. Highly refined seed and vegetable oils are That. Bad. Even in moderation, they can be detrimental to health.<\/p>\n While some folks are more sensitive to highly refined seed oils than others, they can cause inflammation in pretty much everyone. Chronic, systemic inflammation is a scourge of modern times. It\u2019s implicated in countless minor ailments as well as more serious ones such as heart disease and cancer. It also weakens our general immune system response, since the body is too preoccupied with active, ongoing inflammation to deal properly with exposure to bacteria, fungi, and viruses.<\/p>\n Now, this doesn\u2019t mean you have to (or can) avoid inflammatory oils entirely\u2014particularly when eating out. Depending on priorities and life circumstances, this may be a great place to lean into the 80\/20 principle: \u201cIn the context of full and earnest commitment, an overall 80 percent conformity with the 10 Primal Blueprint rules will yield a solidly healthy result.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s not a green light for choosing foods containing seed oils 20 percent of the time. Highly processed, inflammatory oils are never healthy, even in moderation. But if you aim to avoid them completely and a little slips by on occasion, overall outcomes will still land on the side of healthy. In other words: do your best, but don\u2019t stress about perfection.<\/p>\n The fact that you\u2019re asking these questions means you\u2019re already on track! Once you know what to look for and find trusty staples, avoiding highly refined, inflammatory oils gets way easier.<\/p>\n As a starting place, let\u2019s consider your kid\u2019s favorites. Since crackers, granola bars, and muffins are usually snacks and treats rather than a primary food source, it\u2019s best not to go overboard in any case (whether or not they contain unhealthy oils).<\/p>\n That said, sometimes a kid (or adult!) just wants a muffin. In those instances, you\u2019re wise to check the ingredients when purchasing snacks and treats of any sort. Canola oil is an especially prevalent one to watch out for.<\/strong> Most canola oil is chemically extracted using the harsh petroleum-derived solvent hexane before undergoing other steps such as bleaching and deodorizing\u2014all of which require heat and heat-generated degeneration. No need to remember these details! Just know that canola oil is neither a whole nor healthy food.<\/p>\n Other common culprits include soybean oil, corn oil, grapeseed oil, and safflower oil.<\/strong> Like canola, these generally undergo extensive industrial processing and often come from genetically modified, heavily pesticide-treated crops.<\/p>\n Not all oils are unhealthy, however! What\u2019s more, a certain amount of processing is involved in producing oil of any sort. The key thing is to steer clear of those from pesticide-laden crops requiring processing on a large scale in industrial plants. You can find a handy comparison of healthy and unhealthy oils here, and can download the Free Guide to Fats and Oils here<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Does this mean no store-bought treats? Not necessarily! More and more Paleo and Primal brands are making helpful changes, including ditching inflammatory seed oils and opting for better-for-you alternatives such as avocado oil and coconut oil. Read your labels closely, stick with brands you trust, and you\u2019ll find healthier options for satisfying that urge for packaged, ready-to-eat snacks and condiments.<\/p>\n If home cooking\u2019s in the cards, you and your kiddo have even more healthy (or healthier) options! Our extensive recipe archive of Primal treats and Primal snacks is an excellent starting place. Also check out NomNom Paleo, where Paleo mom Michelle Tam shares an abundance of kid-friendly meal and meal prep inspiration.<\/p>\n If going the above route, you might even involve your kid in the process\u2014gently planting the seed that \u201chealthy food is tasty and cooking is fun.\u201d<\/strong> Food preferences start early and can be much harder to shift later on. Whatever small steps you can take to make healthy swaps for you and your kid now, the less likely they\u2019ll be hooked on unhelpful stuff later.<\/p>\n Of course, something that rarely works is pressuring kids into healthy choices! One of the best things you can do is model a Primal way of eating and living without making it too big of a deal.<\/strong> If you\u2019re enjoying healthy, delicious food without extra fuss or stress, that will go far in nurturing healthy habits in kiddos.<\/p>\n As a Primal Health Coach, this is so cool to see! Just by shifting your own eating patterns and relationship with food, you\u2019ll have a huge impact on any little ones watching.<\/p>\n Same goes for restaurants and hot bars: Ask about the ingredients, make polite requests, choose the best available options, and remember that 80\/20 rule.<\/strong><\/p>\n Restaurants are often open to steaming or grilling vegetables and serving any sauces or dressings on the side. If you find a restaurant willing to cook your food in butter or olive oil, all the better!<\/p>\n As more people make such requests and bring attention to unhealthy seed and vegetable oils, more restaurants are taking notice and offering alternatives. So long as you\u2019re respectful and recognize that not all establishments are able or willing to make substitutions, asking never hurts and may help to create change.<\/p>\n If your kids are watching, all the better! This is a great opportunity for modeling kind, respectful inquiry and self-advocacy while starting conversations about why food choice matters.<\/p>\n I realize these are big topics for little ones\u2026 and for hardworking parents who have lots on their plates! By even asking these sorts of questions and being on the watch for unhealthy seed oils, you\u2019re already doing great.<\/p>\n If you want backup, consider working with a health coach! It\u2019s more accessible than you might think, and we can help map out healthier solutions for you and your family. Visit\u00a0myprimalcoach.com\u00a0to check it out and get started!<\/p>\n Have any Primal, kid-friendly treats to share? Or tips for avoiding seed oils when eating out? Drop them or other questions for me in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
\u201cAre seed oils really that bad? Are they okay in moderation? They\u2019re in all the foods my kid likes to eat! Crackers, granola bars, muffins\u2026 Not to mention when eating out!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nWhich oils are bad for you anyway?<\/h3>\n
\u201cBut, mommmmm\u2026\u201d<\/h3>\n
And when eating out?<\/h3>\n
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