Corn – Although this oil contains mostly unsaturated fat, it is higher in saturated fats than most oils. It is usually highly refined and hydrogenated. It is not one of the most nutritious oils.
Soybean Oil – Often highly refined and hydrogenated.
Cottonseed Oil – Is extremely high in saturated fat and likely to be hydrogenated to further extend shelf life. It is one of the worst oils to use. Unfortunately, it is one of the most widely used oils, added to many processed foods, such as cereal and potato chips. Cotton is heavily sprayed with pesticides, leaving the oil by-product chemically contaminated
Palm Oil - is the least healthy naturally occurring oil. Its’ extended shelf life, cheap cost and good taste, make it a popular choice for manufacturing of packaged foods such as cereal and cookies.
Food manufacturers, especially in the candy industry, separate the tropical oils so that they don’t have to list them collectively as “tropical oils” on the label, possibly tipping off consumers to the fact that they are eating a cholesterol raising fat. Don’t be fooled by the nutrition label lie, “contains no cholesterol.” Plant foods don’t contain cholesterol, but Palm oil is high in the saturated fat, Myristic acid, one of the most heart unhealthy fats. It is quite common for chocolate makers to blend Palm Oil into their chocolates.
Saturated Fatty Acids are usually solid at room temperature and are found mainly in foods from animal sources like meat, and dairy products, like butter and cheese. Some Vegetable oils such as Coconut, Palm Kernel and Palm Oil also contain Saturated Fat.
Trans Fatty Acids are liquid Vegetable Oils that have been CHEMICALLY PROCESSED to become semi-solid at room temperature through the addition of Hydrogen Atoms.
Trans Fatty acids, also called “partially hydrogenated” Oils, are used in some margarines, fried foods, and processed snack foods to improve the flavor, texture and shelf life.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid is a naturally occurring Trans Fatty Acid found in the meat and dairy products of ruminant (cud chewing) animals (such as cows, sheep, goats and deer), as well as eggs.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid IS NOT ASSOCIATED with the negative health impacts of Artificially produced Trans Fatty Acids. It may impart some health benefits, though current research findings are controversial.
Conjugated Linoleic Acids are not included in the Trans Fatty Acid listing on a nutrition label.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OIL REFINING METHODS:
Oil is generally refined using two different types of extraction processing methods:
MECHANICALLY EXPELLER PRESSED OIL is a one step extraction process where an expeller (big screw) is tightened until it crushes the seed and causes the oil to run out. It only yields 65-70% of the oil in the seed, making it a costly method of extraction, producing costlier cooking oils. Health conscience manufacturers favor this method, as it retains all the natural nutrients and healthy essential fatty acids extracted from the seed.
CHEMICAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION is a multiple step process used in conjunction with mechanical pressing of the seed. To extract the remaining oil from seeds, harsh, poisonous chemicals such as HEXANE are used to extract 99% of the oil. In order to remove the hexane from the oil, it is heated to very high temperatures causing flavor and nutrient loss. Unfortunately, this is the most popular method used in the oil refinement industry.