– The process of production continues with adding phosphate to the oil and seed mixture in order to separate these two ingredients.
– In the end, crude oil is developed and the byproducts are transformed into animal feed.
After that, the crude veggie oil is placed for another round of refining activities like neutralization, degumming, and bleaching.
During this process, water is poured in the oil. Most of the water soluble products and some non-water soluble products are eliminated.
Neutralization
All the free phospholipids, fatty acids, waxes and pigments found in the extracted oil support fat oxidation and result in unattractive odors and colors in the end products. Sodium carbonate and caustic soda are then used to eliminate these impurities.
So, the impurities go down at the bottom and manufacturers use special machines to draw off these impurities. Refined oils are easily recognizable because they have a lighter color, they are more prone to oxidation and come with a different texture (less viscous).
The impact of neutralization on human health: it turns out that caustic soda is corroding the skin and eyes when they get in touch. In addition, it can also lead to mouth and throat irritation and result in stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea.
Bleaching
Bleaching is primarily performed to eliminate off-colored substances found in the oil. Different bleaching agents like activated clays and activated carbon are used in heated oil as part of the treatment process.
It is possible to remove some of the impurities with this method, but the fact is that bleaching can result in different health issues.
The impact of bleaching on human health: The bleaching procedure eliminates all the natural antioxidants found in the oil which means it makes it less healthy.
Deodorization
The final stage in the process of vegetable oil refining is deodorization. In order to do this, manufacturers use steam at a very high temperature and high pressure to eliminate tastes and odors that can make the final product unattractive.
The final product is called refined oil and it is prepared to be used for eating or for the production of other products. It’s worth mentioning that a light citric acid solution is usually added at this stage to neutralize metals like copper and iron.
The impact of deodorization on human health: the usual deodorization procedure eliminates most of the omega-3 fatty acids and turns them into unhealthy trans fatty acids.
In case you didn’t know, trans fatty acids can cause damage to human health by increasing the chances of getting a heart disease, increasing cholesterol levels in the blood and making you more prone to a stroke.
A research dedicated to canola oil content has shown that almost 5% of all fatty acid content in canola oil are actually trans isomers. They are a special kind of plastic similar to nylon which is often used in clothes. To put it in simple words, we are eating compounds which we should wear.
Canola oil health risks
Since we know how canola oil and similar vegetable oil are made, it is obvious that some of the ingredients and procedures used in the production process are not actually good for our health.
On the contrary, there are many canola oil health risks that we should be aware of. These side effects and health risks are usually greater when people consume large amounts of these oils.
– Destroys Vitamin E levels quickly
– Develops cancers and heart disease
– Boosts bad cholesterol levels
– Increases the chances of developing health disorders like multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus, neuropathy, pulmonary hypertension and cerebral palsy
– Blocks enzyme activity
– Creates spasms in the respiratory system
– Interrupts the work of the immune system.
The list of canola oil health risks is very long and this is the main reason why experts advise trying other oils and avoiding processed vegetable oils whenever we can although they are affordable and accessible.
What’s even worse is that canola oil is not the only oil we should avoid. Corn, safflower, sunflower and processed vegetable oils might bring negative effects to our health because most of them can become rancid after exposure to high temperatures.
On top of that, these oils are genetically altered in order to extend their shelf lives, appear more attractive to buyers and taste better. These oils don’t have any nutritional value that is useful to consumers.
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