Foods4BetterHealth Reports on Misleading Heart-Healthy Vegetable Oil Claims
Boston, MA (PRWEB) November 23, 2013 -- Foods4BetterHealth.com, a food and nutrition web site that believes that healthy foods can prevent disease and illness, is reporting on a new study that found that vegetable oils such as sunflower, safflower, and corn oils, should not be allowed to be labeled as heart-healthy, as their health benefits are not clear.
As Foods4BetterHealth notes (http://www.foods4betterhealth.com/is-the-heart-healthy-vegetable-oil-a-scam-6110), Dr. R. Bazinet, a scientist at the University of Toronto, has challenged Health Canada, arguing they should not permit manufacturers to label sunflower, safflower, and corn oils as heart-healthy, since, according to his study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, these oils may not only fail to prevent heart attacks, but may also increase the risk of a heart attack. (Source: Bazinet, R., et al., “Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: Is a broad cholesterol-lowering health claim appropriate?” CMAJ, published ahead of print November 11, 2013.)
As the Foods4BetterHealth article “Is This Heart-Healthy Vegetable Oil a Scam?” notes, certain vegetable oils, such as the ones listed above, are rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which food manufacturers claim makes them heart-healthy; however, they contain little or none of the healthier omega-3 fatty acids. Also, while studies show consuming omega-6 fatty acids can lower cholesterol, they also lower good HDL cholesterol while increasing the inflammation in blood vessels, which can damage arteries. (Source: “Corn, sunflower, safflower oil health benefits challenged,” CBC web site, November 11, 2013; http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/corn-sunflower-safflower-oil-health-benefits-challenged-1.2422522, last accessed November11, 2013.)
The Foods4BetterHealth report observes that other vegetable oils, such as canola, soybean, and olive oil, contain much more omega-3 fatty acids and omega-9 fatty acids, which are helpful in lowering blood pressure, decreasing inflammation, and lowering the risk of heart attack or stroke.
The Foods4BetterHealth report concludes that based on the current evidence, oils containing mostly omega-6 fatty acids should not be labeled as heart-healthy, as that is misleading to consumers.
Foods4BetterHealth.com, created by Doctors Health Press, is a food news and health web site, offering readers information about the latest food controversies, exclusive expert advice, and health tips to ward off illness, prevent disease, and live a long, healthy life. For more information, visit http://www.foods4betterhealth.com.
Adrian Newman, Foods4BetterHealth, http://www.foods4betterhealth.com, +1 905-266-0350, [email protected]
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