When our bodies are overloaded with manufactured oils and deprived of
healthy natural fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids, cells weaken and disease
develops. Many refined polyunsaturated oils, such as corn and soybean, have
been recommended by the medical establishment as healthy oils that can help
lower cholesterol levels in the bloodstream. The truth is that the cholesterol is
simply escaping from the bloodstream and being deposited in the tissues at
higher levels in order to increase the stability of cellular walls. As a result,
polyunsaturated oils are highly atherogenic, which means that they promote
hardening of the arteries.
The dangers do not stop here. Polyunsaturated vegetable oils become even
more toxic and unstable when they are heated due to the creation of free radicals,
which are roaming electrons that damage cells. Free radicals also oxidize or
damage cholesterol, which leads to premature aging (wrinkles), clogging of the
arteries, and, potentially, cancer. I could write a 300-page book about free
radicals alone, but I’ll spare you the details here. Elimination of refined
polyunsaturated oils from your diet should be a top priority.
Figure 1.4: Refined Polyunsaturated Oils (With Excess Omega-6 Fatty Acids) Have Been Linked To:
Too Much Trans Fat in Our Diet
Polyunsaturated oils are not the only bad fats we consume; it is also estimated
that the average American consumes 10 to 14 grams of trans fats per day (Fig.
1.5). I’m sure you’ve heard some of the drama surrounding the dangers of trans
fats. So what exactly are these hydrogenated oils or trans fats? I’ll explain. In
order to make an oil more stable, manufacturers add a hydrogen atom to it. They
are literally altering the oil’s molecular structure by adding this hydrogen
molecule. This leads to the formation of trans fats, or damaged fats, which are
particularly dangerous to health since they are completely foreign to the human
body. Cells built in your body from hydrogenated oils and trans fats can become
cancerous and impair hormone production.
One example of a hydrogenated fat is margarine. On the Perfect 10 Diet, it
goes without saying that the consumption of margarine is completely forbidden.
Here’s why: