Feeling pressure from consumers and so-called health experts Frito-Lay has been changing the fat it uses to make their products since 1987.? In another attempt to market “healthier” snacks, the best selling snack food manufacturer began substituting sunflower oil for cottonseed oil.? The purpose is to reduce the amount of saturated fat contained in their products.?
According to Rocco Papalia, senior vice president of R&D the switch in oils will result in a 66% reduction in saturated fat in some of their products.? The problem I have with this change is the sunflower oil contains an even higher level of polyunsaturated fat, which is highly unstable.? This switch in oils is actually unhealthier for consumers.
First, sunflower oil contains a high level of omega-6 fatty acids, which in the levels that we Americans consume it in, is detrimental to our health.? We consume way too many Omega-6 fats and almost no Omega-3 fats. The Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio in the American diet is about 10:1 to 20:1.? For most of mans existence, the Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio was 1:1 to 3:1.? Eating too many Omega-6 fatty acids is associated with cardiovascular disease, some cancers, and is pro-inflammatory.
Second, but perhaps more importantly, polyunsaturated fats are highly unstable when exposed to heat or oxygen.? These oils literally become toxins when used in cooking especially frying.? If Frito-Lay were truly interested in making more healthy snacks they would return to using tropical oils in the manufacturing of their products.
Coconut oil is the healthiest oil you can consume.? This tropical oil contains lauric acid which is well known for its antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal effects.? More than two thirds of coconut oil is medium chained fatty acids which are easily absorbed for quick energy and promote fat loss.?
Fortunately oils like coconut oil are starting to become recognized for their health promoting properties.? Maybe someday food giants like Frito-Lay will get their heads out of their asses and start to actually care about the damage they are doing to the people who buy their products.?
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