Hello!
You may have noticed we changed things up a bit regarding ingredients in our products and some products are no longer available. I have decided to take out some ingredients, although mainstream, like apricot oil, flaxseed oil, grape seed oil and pretty much any vegetable oil. The harvesting and the processing of these oils were not in alignment with my commitment in providing natural quality ingredients/standards in my work.
I have been researching, conversating, and meditating on this issue for some time now. I have realized this topic has become controversial due to the idea passed on by health advisors stating the consumption of these industrialized oils help our body become healthier particularly in heart health. These highly processed, GMO, industrialized oils, rapeseed (canola), corn, and soybean were highly recommended by the American Heart Association in 1961. Coincidently, they received a hefty sum of 1.7million by Proctor and Gamble, the makers of Crisco, and AHA released their recommendation.
PUFAs are not ancestral food. We have been following this advice for more than 50 years and I have seen the numbers of heart attack statistics but it does not reflect good health. Modern foods may have a role in this.
PUFAs or Poly Unsaturated Fatty Acids fall under the category of essential fatty acids, meaning the body cannot perform without them. They also fall into the category of drying oils, I am no expert but drying oils are used for wood projects like varnishing.
Anyways, here is a little quick elementary chemistry,
PUFAs are unsaturated and unstable since it lacks a hydrogen atom. It instead uses a double bond (or more) in the carbon chain. Think of a metal chain and how that metal chain is formed is by links (the carbon chain), now these double bonds are causing the links to be fractured. Fractured links causes the metal chain to be weak and easily broken.
Now, saturated fats like coconut oil and animal fats have a complete chain and does not need a bond which causes it to be more stable to light and heat.
Just a thought, if unstable oils like PUFAs oxidize quickly under light and heat, i wonder how it can play around in our warm 98 degree body temperature. Since PUFAs are stored in our tissue i can see how the Sun can be played as the villian for wrinkles and spots on our skin.
Its over the top, and incredible to see how crazy our consumption of poly unsaturated fatty acids has sky rocketed.
It is impossible to not consume PUFAs. I have realized this but it is possible to limit our consumption. As a wife of a husband with a chronic disease I am open to this knowledge. Personally, we have limited our consumption of PUFAs and we have seen inflammation decrease as well as other health benefits. Again, I am only speaking from experience and research, trying to shine some light on an otherwise dark subject. I understand fish and other sea creatures have been food for many ancestry lineages. Mine included and I praise their wisdom. With that being said every body is different and balance is key to good health.
To read more about the consumption and the solution to balancing PUFA in our body please read about
Matt Blackburn Thank you!
So we know about consumption, but what about on the body?
Just as we should worry about what goes into our body, its normal to be concerned about what goes topically on our body as well. I mentioned earlier how I removed certain PUFA oils because some of these oils are obtained in complicated processes involving high heat and extreme pressure which results in oxidation. Free radical damage is highly likely. We want oils that protect our skin and feed our skin, not to cause damage.
"...identified stearoyl-CoA Δ-6 desaturase as the major fatty acid desaturase in human sebaceous glands, which induces rapid oxidation and degradation of linoleic acid and its derivatives in sebaceous gland cells. Due to the rapid degradation of linoleic acid in the sebaceous cells, stearoyl-CoA Δ-6 desaturase is able to convert palmitic acid into sapienic acid."
Lets talk about our skin for a moment, (if yall know me personally, I wanted to be an esthetician which bloomed my interest for all things medical and was my source of income for five years. i love these talks so thank you for reading and coming to this lil space! okay ending ramble) our skin epidermis layer contains PUFAs naturally as essential fatty acids. Yup, our skins own sebum contains Squalene and needs PUFAs in order to synthesize squalene and other wax esters.
"The most abundant polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in human skin is the 18-carbon fatty acid, linoleic acid...The 20-carbon fatty acid, arachidonic acid, is the second most prominent PUFA in the skin."
In fact, people have skin types that have been shown to lack PUFAs. When linoleic acid is almost non existent it can lead to acne and other skin imbalances. Certain PUFAs contribute to ceramides (think water barrier, keeping skin moist), influence collagen positively, and have UV protective qualities(hello anti aging).
I believe PUFAs can synergistically work well for certain skin types, but not all. Again, every body is different and what works for one, may not work for another. The quality of oils are extremely important here, so if choosing an oil look for one that is cold pressed and minimally processed. If possible, look at the color and if it smells rancid, it most likely is and avoid it please. I am beginning to work with certain PUFA oils again like Tamanu. One of my favorite oils. It has a balanced profile containing saturated fatty acids and unsaturated. My favorite for oily skin and clogged pores. I have reintroduced this oil in our Golden Sun salve and I am amazed by its healing qualities. Nature provides beautiful gifts and wisdom. Trust your own intuition and your body when choosing what to eat and skin care.
Thank you so much!
With love Anais <3
Leave a comment