The consumption of vegetable oils has increased drastically in recent decades. With that said, unfortunately, most people are unaware that these oils are extremely bad for the health of their body systems.
In fact, studies have shown that vegetable oil consumption increases the risk of heart disease, cancer, and other chronic conditions.
But what about the lungs?
What many people don’t realize is that vegetable oils can have a negative impact on lung health and the functionality of the respiratory system. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how they can damage your lungs and what you can do to protect yourself.
What are Vegetable Oils?
Vegetable oils are highly-processed oils that are extracted from plants. The most common types include:
- Canola oil
- Soybean oil
- Corn oil
- Sunflower oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Safflower oil
These oils are often used in cooking or as an ingredient in processed foods. They’re also found in many household products, such as shampoo, lotion, and makeup.
These oils are high in calories yet low in nutrients and can lead to a number of symptoms and unwanted health problems over time.
Vegetable oils are also high in unhealthy fats, such as omega-6 fatty acids.
When consumed in large amounts, these fats can promote inflammation throughout the body and contribute to a number of chronic health problems.
Unhealthy Fats and the Lungs
One of the main ways that vegetable oils can damage your lungs is by increasing inflammation. As previously mentioned, vegetable oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids.
While omega-3 fatty acids are considered healthy and have positive effects on the body, omega-6 fatty acids have the opposite effect. In fact, researchers found that omega-6 fatty acids can cause an increase in inflammation in the body.
Chronic inflammation is a major problem in every system within the human body. This includes the lungs, which can lead to a number of serious respiratory problems, such as asthma, COPD, and bronchitis.
Studies have shown that people with certain lung conditions, such as asthma, tend to have more frequent episodes when levels of inflammation are increased.
Inflammation can worsen symptoms such as bronchoconstriction, which is when the muscles around the airways tighten, making it difficult to breathe.
Increased Mucus Production
In addition to causing inflammation, vegetable oils can also damage the lungs in other ways. For example, some researchers believe that these oils can increase the production of mucus in the lungs.
Mucus is a sticky substance that lines the airways in order to keep debris and foreign substances from reaching the lungs.
However, when the body produces too much mucus, it makes it difficult for air to flow in and out of the lungs, which makes it more difficult to breathe. In people with conditions like asthma and COPD, this can lead to more frequent and severe exacerbations.
Other studies have found that people with chronic lung disease who consume high amounts of vegetable oils have a greater decline in lung function over time.
Increased Risk of Heart Disease
Another serious problem that can be caused by vegetable oil consumption is an increased risk of heart disease. Vegetable oils are packed with processed, unhealthy fats that have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
Trans fats, in particular, are one of the most dangerous types of fats for heart health.
They are found in many processed foods, which have become a staple in the diets of a large percentage of people around the world.
These fats can also increase the levels of “bad” cholesterol in the blood and contribute to the development of plaque in the arteries. Plaque buildup can narrow or block the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
The heart and lungs work together to pump oxygenated blood to the organs and tissues of the body. Therefore, it’s not surprising that an unhealthy heart can lead to problems in the lungs and vice versa.
If the heart isn’t functioning properly, it will be unable to pump oxygen-carrying red blood cells throughout the body, which can lead to hypoxemia and result in respiratory failure.
Increased Weight Gain
In addition to the other health problems that can be caused by vegetable oils, they can also lead to weight gain.
As previously mentioned, these oils are high in calories and unhealthy fats. When consumed in large amounts, they can contribute to weight gain. Several studies have shown that people who consume a diet high in vegetable oils are more likely to be obese than those who do not.
Obesity is a major problem in many countries around the world and is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other chronic health problems.
Additionally, increased fat in the thoracic region, which is the area around the lungs, can put extra pressure on the respiratory system and make it more difficult to breathe.
Vegetable Oils Contain Carcinogens
Another serious problem with vegetable oils is that they often contain carcinogens, which are cancer-causing substances.
In fact, one study found that the repeated heated of vegetable oils can generate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which some researchers believe have carcinogenic effects.
While more research is needed in this area, it’s clear that there are some potential risks associated with the consumption of vegetable oils.
Protecting Your Lungs from the Dangers of Vegetable Oils
While vegetable oils can have many negative effects on your lungs, there are some things you can do to protect yourself.
The first step is to avoid consuming these oils as much as possible. This means cooking with healthy fats, such as olive oil, and avoiding processed foods that contain vegetable oils.
If you do consume foods that contain these oils, make sure to balance them out with foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fats have anti-inflammatory effects and can help offset some of the negative effects of omega-6 fats.
You can get omega-3 fatty acids from fish and healthy nuts, such as macadamia nuts. You can also take a fish oil supplement to make sure you’re getting enough of these healthy fats, as long as it’s recommended by your physician.
Making these simple changes can help protect your lungs from the harmful effects of vegetable oils over time.
Final Thoughts
Vegetable oils are widely used in the food industry and are a staple in many people’s diets. However, these oils can be dangerous for your lungs.
They contain unhealthy fats that can lead to heart disease, increased weight gain, and even cancer.
In order to protect your lungs, it’s important to avoid these oils as much as possible and to balance them out with healthy fats, such as omega-3 fatty acids. Making these simple changes can help keep your lungs healthy and free of the harmful effects of vegetable oils.
We have a similar guide that covers more foods that are bad for your lungs that I think you’ll find helpful. Thanks for reading!
Written by:
John Landry is a registered respiratory therapist from Memphis, TN, and has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology. He enjoys using evidence-based research to help others breathe easier and live a healthier life.
References
- Cimrin, Arif Hikmet. “Pulmonary Effects of Frying Vegetable Oils: An Experimental Study.” European Respiratory Society, 1 Sept. 2014, erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3956.
- Xue, Yingbo, et al. “Association Between Cooking Oil Fume Exposure and Lung Cancer Among Chinese Nonsmoking Women: A Meta-Analysis.” National Library of Medicine, Onco Targets Ther, 19 May 2016, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4881732.
- Yoshida, Takeshi, et al. “[Vegetable Oil-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) in Near Drowning: Evaluation Based on Extravascular Lung Water Index].” National Library of Medicine, Nihon Kokyuki Gakkai Zasshi, June 2008, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18592993.
- Sayon-Orea, Carmen, et al. “Does Cooking With Vegetable Oils Increase the Risk of Chronic Diseases?: A Systematic Review.” National Library of Medicine, Br J Nutr, Apr. 2015, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26148920.
- Ganesan, Kumar, et al. “Impact of Consumption of Repeatedly Heated Cooking Oils on the Incidence of Various Cancers- a Critical Review.” National Library of Medicine, Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr, 20 Oct. 2017, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28925728.
- Black, P. N., and S. Sharpe. “Dietary Fat and Asthma: Is There a Connection?” National Library of Medicine, Eur Respir J, Jan. 1997, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9032484.
- Thomas, Shalom Sara, et al. “Effect of Vegetable Oils With Different Fatty Acid Composition on High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity and Colon Inflammation.” National Library of Medicine, Nutr Res Pract, Oct. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7520558.