What Are the Harms of Eating Partially Hydrogenated Cottonseed Oil?

Partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil isn't good for you. It contains triple the amount of saturated fat compared to canola oil, and has a high omega-6 to omega-3 ratio. Too much saturated fat in your diet can cause or contribute to a number of diseases, including diabetes, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and heart disease. Omega-6 can also contribute to these problems, and can cause chronic inflammation.

Why Do Companies Use It?

• Many foods (especially processed snack foods) use partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil for one simple reason: it's inexpensive. Canola, safflower and olive, three of the healthiest oils, cost considerably more to produce than cottonseed oil does, and when companies are making bagged snacks such as potato chips, every penny counts. Movie theater popcorn is also primarily made with cottonseed oil, keeping the cost low and the profit margin high.

Healthy Alternatives

• Olive oil is a healthy alternative.

  Avoiding or cutting down on partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil is relatively easy to do if you read labels. By law, all processed food manufacturers are required to list the ingredients in their products on the outside of the package. If partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil (or blended vegetable oil) is one of the ingredients, look for a healthier alternative. As the world becomes more health-conscious, some manufacturers have begun making "gourmet" versions of their snacks that are produced with higher-quality ingredients. You may pay more for them, but your body will thank you.

Moderation

• Like most foods, eating snacks that contain partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil probably won't hurt you as long as you eat them in moderation. Just keep in mind that the while one tablespoon of cottonseed oil contains about the same calories (120) as canola, olive, and safflower oil, the fats it contains aren't the same. The more foods you eat that contain cottonseed oil, the more likely you are to develop diabetes or suffer from high cholesterol or heart disease.

A Smart First Step

• Daily exercise is important for a healthy overall lifestyle

  Cutting partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil from your diet won't instantly make you healthy and thin, but it can help. Daily exercise, combined with making wise food choices and steering clear of foods with unhealthy ingredients and eating healthy foods in moderation, will certainly have a positive effect on your health. Replacing unhealthy foods in your diet with healthy alternatives is a smart first step.