PUFA or Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids. What the hell are they and why should you care? PUFA is another one of the dumb@** additives that has been allowed in our diets that wreaks havoc on our health. Conventional wisdom has unwisely transitioned away from saturated fats to widespread consumption of PUFA's over the past several decades. PUFA's are easily oxidized and quickly go rancid (on the shelf and in your body) particularly when heated during cooking. Oxidized PUFAs have a pro-inflammatory effect on your system which leads to a variety of health problems and a disruption in healthy immune and hormone function. This is just one of the many dietary/lifestyle reasons this country struggles with "disease/illness". The endocrine system is especially vulnerable to the effects of PUFA ingestion, leading to symptoms such as a slowed metabolism, low energy levels, and sluggish thyroid function. Heavy consumption of PUFA's in the modern diet is a leading contributor to insulin resistance, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, immune problems, arthritis, and other inflammatory conditions. This may sound dramatic but STRICTLY AVOID the following categories of PUFA's...
Canola Oil: It's heavily refined and genetically engineered from the rapeseed plant - a plant known to be toxic to humans and animals-- particularly harmful to respiratory function.
Margarine- Want an easy way to raise your LDL (bad cholesterol) and lower your HDL (good cholesterol)?No? Then replace margarine with Kerrygold butter - like, right now.
Vegetable & Seed PUFA Oils- Corn, safflower, sunflower, soybean, cottonseed, and others. The ratio of Omega 6 to 3 ratios in these oils disrupts endocrine function AND it's highly vulnerable to oxidation when heated.
Vegetable Shortening- No explanation needed.
Grain-Fed Feedlot Animals - Not only do they live in confining, small conditions but they require antibiotics and have high inflammatory omega 6 fatty acids.
But the good thing is, you get to REPLACE all of this with healthy and TASTY approved fats such as... Cold Pressed Extra-virgin Olive Oil, Coconut oil/products, Ghee, Grass Fed Butter, Avocados, Avocado Oils, etc I don't want you to stress yourself out when you do have PUFA, but get in the habit of reading labels (companies like to sneak those oils in there). Hope this helps influence healthy changes to your food choices, one habit at a time. -Functional Lifestyles
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