My cousin has known for at least a few years that Crisco and margarine are bad news.

 I told him decades ago.

 

But...

 

He doesn't believe anything.

I'm just disappointed when I tell my cousin something... it doesn't enter his reality until experts says the same thing.

 

2-3 years later!

 

So a few years ago he dropped Crisco and margarine.

 

This isn't the "cooking oil" I'm referring to in the title of this post.

 

The oil I'm trying to get my cousin to limit is olive oil, canola oil, etc.

 

The paleo and primal movement pointed this out in the early-to-mid 2000's.

 

But now we have a clearer picture.

 

First lets talk about what the media seems to be blaming our obesity epidemic on.

 

Carbs...

 

Here's how carb intake is related to obesity.

 

 

What about sugar?

 

Sugar is now supposedly the cause of all bad things.

 

Yet..

 

Overall sugar intake and high fructose corn syrup has dropped, but obesity levels continue to rise.

 

 

The one thing that follows the obesity rise perfectly is oil.

 

Here's a graph charting the different types of fat.

 

"Salad and Cooking Oils" follow the obesity line almost perfectly.

 

 

We should separate the two types of cooking oils out even further.

 

Polyunsaturated and Monounsaturated.

Here's a chart for Monounsaturated fats (Olive oil and Canola oil).

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a chart for Polyunsaturated fats (Corn Oil and Soy).

 

 

 

 

My cousin is slowly listening to me and changing his habits.

 

He is using creative methods to cook his meals now instead of overly relying on cooking oil.

 

A lot of our intake of these oils comes from processed food.

 

If you do buy something from a box, I'd recommend aiming for as low as fat as possible to be safe.

 

 

I know we have been told that sugar is to blame for obesity.

 

The data doesn't match that claim.

 

 

If you were to only read articles from health and fitness sites, without looking at the data...

 

It would be easy to believe that sugar is our top health problem.

 

This isn't the case.

 

Here's a chart of sugar intake and obesity.

 

 

It's still best to limit sugar and eat whole foods when possible.

 

...it just isn't the evil ingredient people make it out to be.

Let's contrast that with fat intake and obesity.

 

I'm NOT saying all fat is bad.

 

I just believe if we cut back on fats, it would go a long way in solving our obesity crisis.