Is Canola Oil Toxic? [Read on to Find Out]

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted April 2, 2023

The internet has exploded recently with the news that canola oil is toxic.

The wildfire began with a post on the popular video platform TikTok. But the information has spread to all the other social media outlets, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Maybe you’ve seen it yourself.

Many nutritionists and other mainstream medical experts rushed to defend the oil. But are they right?

Is canola oil harmless, or is it truly “toxic”?

The answer might surprise you.

Let’s take a closer look.

The so-called expert’s defense of canola oils boils down to three basic points.

• The oil goes through similar processing as other oils typically found in the American diet, such as corn, soybean, and sunflower.
• Canola oil is one of the American Heart Association’s “healthy cooking oils.”
• The oil is low in saturated fats and high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

But the REAL truth is canola oil is damaging to your health.

And “toxic” is a perfectly accurate description. Here’s why…

Saying that canola oil is safe because it’s processed like other oils is like saying a potato chip is okay because it’s processed like all the other potato chips. It means nothing.

The so-called “normal” processing of most cooking oils involves very high heat, transforming natural oils into misshapen mutants that damage our bodies.

These misshaped oils, called trans-fatty acids (trans fats), do WAY more harm than any other oil you can put in your body. Trans fats send inflammation levels skyrocketing. And they’ve been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, and more.

Now, if you look at a canola oil bottle, it’s likely to say “NO TRANS FATS” on the label. But this is a blatant lie. You see, current labeling laws allow foods to contain up to half a gram of trans fats per serving and still be called “Trans-Fat Free,” according to the FDA.

That might not sound like much. But when you consider that the recommendation for trans fats is ZERO and that vegetable oils are in MOST processed foods, the problem becomes obvious.

And that’s just ONE of the issues with canola oil.

Vegetable oils are ALSO a source of omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6s ARE essential. But we get WAY too many of them in our diet already. This ALSO leads to increased inflammation.

Canola oil and other “vegetable” oils are extracted using the solvent hexane. Manufacturers maintain that there’s no hexane in the oils when they reach grocery store shelves.

But let’s face it, it’s concerning that a solvent is being used to extract the oils in the first place. And it leaves questions about harmful residues.

Manufacturers dump the antioxidants TBHQ, BHA, and BHT into vegetable oils to keep them from spoiling and foods like chips crisp.

Now that might sound like a good thing at first. After all, antioxidants are healthy, right?

Well, the trouble is these are NOT natural antioxidants. They’re artificially produced in a lab. And research reveals they’re potential hormone disruptors, plus they’re linked to cancer and nerve toxicity in animal studies.

You’ve probably noticed by now that the problems I’ve covered here aren’t unique to canola oil. They also apply to the other vegetable oils, including corn, soy, safflower, peanut, and sunflower. All are harmful to your health and worthy of being labeled “toxic.”

The only oils you should be using are avocado and extra virgin olive oil.

Or better yet, use lard, butter, or coconut oil. These saturated fats are stable when you heat them (they don’t turn into trans fats), and don’t raise inflammation levels.

P.S. Research reveals canola oil can mess with your memory. And you’ll never believe how little you need to eat to see your risk skyrocket. I’ve got the whole disturbing story RIGHT HERE.

Source:

“Small Entity Compliance Guide: Trans Fatty Acids in Nutrition Labeling, Nutrient Content Claims, and Health Claims,” FDA, AUGUST 2003, Docket Number: FDA-2003-D-0035, Issued by: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition

fda.gov/regulatory-information

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND