July 30, 2012
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Canola
Canola oil was originally rape seed. However, rape seed caused many health issues that made it unsuitable for human consumption. Rape is high in erucic acid, which have been shown to produce lesions of the heart and tissue damage to organs in lab animals. So, rape seed was bred to contain less erucic acid and was renamed LEAR – Low Erucic Acid Rapeseed, which eventually became to be know as Canola
Even at low levels of erucic acid (2%), canola has been found to cause minor heart scarring
Canola oil has been shown to injury kidneys, increase blood sodium levels, and cause abnormal changes in the hormone aldosterone, which regulates blood pressure
Canola has been found to be a potentially potent allergen in children and adults . (The Paleo Diet, Dr. Loren Cordain, p23)
Most Canola grown is GMO. More and more people have been showing reactions to Canola.
Rapeseed oil is poisonous to living things and is an excellent insect repellent. Rape is an oil that is used as a lubricant, fuel, soap and synthetic rubber base and as a illuminate for color pages in magazines. It is an industrial oil. It is not a food.
Canola oil is registered with the EPA as a pesticide.
Canola oil is used everywhere – in restaurants, processed food, even raisins are coated in it. Start reading your labels and you’ll see what I mean. If the ingredient list specifies vegetable oil, it is a catch-all term that allows the manufacture flexibility in what oil they use depending on price and availability. Thus, there is no way to know for sure that the vegetable oil listed isn’t canola oil.
I have found only one resource for people with canola sensitivities. The site is a database that lists which food products and restaurants contain or use canola oil and those that don’t. Currently, it only covers the US, but there are plans to expand it to Canada and the UK. Unfortunately, avoidance is only part of the solution. In order to protect our health and the health of our loved ones, we have to wean ourselves from our dependence on the supermarket and the convenience foods we’ve become accustomed. And that means taking on more responsibility for growing our own food and supporting local farmers that are producing quality food.
Comments (4)
The menu that I have self-imposed is primarily for diabetes control without medication. But I have lost 50 lbs. My M-I-L was concerned because Bobby didn’t need to lose any weight, she’s right, at 115 lbs he would blow away. I eased her mind when I told her yes he eats my menu at about 4X what I do, plus a lot of beef (but it is broiled now) and regularly throws in a football sized baked potato oozing with butter and sour cream…So much better for him than a Big Mac, or Taco Hell. He still gets his junk fix at work (lunch). Good post!
Good post. I’ve known of the dangers of canola oil for quite awhile.
Thank you for this. I did not know. But I use peanut oil for cooking anyway.
@musterion99 - Thank you for rec’ing this.
@mtngirlsouth - You’re welcome. Did you click on the link that shows what restaurants use it?