Just When I Thought I Knew All the Bad Oils: My Journey to Healthier Choices
- Nina Scheets
- Sep 5, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 20, 2024
While doing my online food shopping and checking all the labels, I realized seed oils were still hiding in some of my favorite brands! Take Simple Mills, for example—We are loving their Sweet Thins Chocolate Brownie flavor, which is made without seed oils, so I assumed all their products were seed oil free. Lesson learned—not all Simple Mills products are seed oil free! This time, I came across something I hadn’t heard of before: high-oleic sunflower oil. So, of course, I did my research. Geez! You really do have to check the label on everything you buy. No wonder eating healthy is such a challenge—it’s hard!
So, what’s the deal with high-oleic sunflower oil? It’s made from sunflower seeds and, technically, it’s still a seed oil. But it’s a bit of an upgrade compared to regular sunflower oil. It’s packed with oleic acid (a monounsaturated fat), which makes it a slightly better choice. It’s lower in saturated fat and more resistant to oxidation, so it won’t spoil as quickly, which makes it great for industrial use. But here’s the thing—just because it’s “better” doesn’t mean it’s the best option, especially if you’re trying to optimize your health. High-oleic sunflower oil might seem like a good middle ground, but when it comes to nourishing our body, we can do better.
The good news? Once you start learning and figure out which products work for you and your family, it gets so much easier. Honestly, the hardest part about cleaning up your diet is just getting started—I know this firsthand. I have a husband and three teenage kids, and let me tell you, I got a lot of pushback about changing our food. My kids didn’t think it was a big deal, but I knew better. It is a big deal. I stuck to my guns because I know that eating healthy is going to keep them healthy. Great health starts in the gut!
When I found high-oleic sunflower oil in that Simple Mills product, I had to ask myself if I really cared that much. After all, “they” say it’s a healthier option. But here’s the bottom line: no matter how you spin it, high-oleic sunflower oil is still a seed oil. Sure, it has *less omega-6 but if you’ve been working hard to eliminate seed oils, why make an exception just because someone says, “Oh, it’s not that bad”? It’s still a seed oil, and if we’ve learned anything, seed oils are a no-go. Don’t let this one fool you or undo all your hard work.
And if you’re thinking it’s too late to start making these changes, trust me, it’s not. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life dealing with chronic pain and inflammation when there’s a solution? You don’t have to give up everything you love. Small changes lead to a healthier lifestyle. Start by looking at the ingredients in the products already in your home. Be aware of what’s in your food, and when you shop next, start reading labels and gradually replace the bad stuff.
I get it—food shopping is already a hassle, and now I’m telling you to shop differently and in more places. Sounds exhausting, right? Let me share what works for me. I break my food shopping into categories: Produce, Pantry, Bulk- for produce, I shop at Aldi and buy organic. Most of my snacks and pantry items come from Thrive Market, an online store. Once I found the brands that worked for us, I noticed they were pricier at Sprouts and Wegmans, and Walmart didn’t always have them in stock. That’s how I ended up using Thrive Market.
Soon, I’ll be buying my meat from a local farm (more on that later), but for now, I still head to Sam’s Club for bulk items like meat, eggs, and bread. Oh, and I’ve just started making my own sourdough starter, so I’m venturing into the world of breadmaking. Once I’ve mastered it, you know I’ll share that journey with you!
I know, it all seems like a lot, but take advantage of the times—do some of your food shopping and meal ordering online! I use insta-cart or pickup orders, it’s a time and energy saver. Thrive Market offers great discounts, and you even earn 5% back on purchases, so you’re saving money while stocking up on healthier options. It’s been a game-changer for me.
I won’t lie—this whole journey has been hard, but I keep at it because the reward is worth it. There’s nothing better than knowing you’re making healthy choices for yourself and your family. I mean, who doesn’t love feeling good?
*Olive oil contains less than 1% omega-3 and about 10-15% omega-6 for a ratio of slightly more than 1:10 (reference wikipedia). High oleic sunflower oil is only 4-5% omega-6 but 0% omega 3, therefore an infinite ratio. This ratio is the reason some will say that olive oil is better than high oleic sunflower oil. But olive oil is a poor source of omega-3 because it contains such a small amount.
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