THE TOXICITY OF LINOLEIC ACID

I have written a monthly blog article for our newsletter for over 20 years. I encourage you to read this month’s article as I believe this may be the most important article I have written in terms of achieving good health and avoiding/reversing major chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, neurological illnesses, poor gut health and macular degeneration. We did not have these conditions 150 years ago. So, what happened? Processed foods, especially the introduction and prevalence of industrial seed oils, better known as vegetable oils. Please read the last two months’ blog articles here and here to learn more about how processed foods are making us a very sick country. This month I will discuss specifically how linoleic acid is causing us to be ill, overweight, and shortening our lives.

What is linoleic acid? It is an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and contributes to the synthesis of various hormones, which is important. In of itself, it is not harmful. So why is linoleic acid considered to be a health threat? Because it oxidizes easily on the shelf, in the frying pan or in the body. When you consume an excess amount, it begins breaking down into toxic metabolites, such as aldehydes and acrolein.  Linoleic acid goes rancid relatively quickly. Linoleic acid causes an increase in free radicals, in lipid peroxidation, and insulin resistance at the cellular level. The result is mitochondrial dysfunction and chronic inflammation. They are biological poisons. Linoleic acid is cytotoxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, atherogenic (hardening of the arteries), thrombogenic (cause for strokes), and obesogenic. They cause fat cells to store fat!

The consumption of vegetable oils in the US has increased from less than 2 grams/day in 1860 to 80 grams/day as of 2010. In 1900, 99% of added fats were from animal fats (saturated fats).  In 2005, 86% of added fats were from vegetable oils. There is a clear correlation between common health conditions and vegetable oil intake.  There is no correlation with saturated fats.

If you were to ask me what the single most important step to take to improve your health, I would say adopt a low linoleic acid diet which means avoiding all vegetable (seed) oils. Contact me at rickATgeorgetownmarket.com with any questions or for further information on linoleic acid.