Understanding Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFAs)

PUFA stands for Poly-Unsaturated Fatty Acid. This chemical term means the fatty acid has more than one (poly) double bond in its carbon chain.

These are considered unsaturated fats because, unlike saturated fatty acids, they are missing hydrogen atoms. This lack of complete hydrogen bonding results in chemical instability.

Why PUFAs are Chemically Unstable

Picture a chain with several missing joints - it would be weak and easily broken. This analogy holds true for PUFAs. Because of their instability, PUFAs are highly prone to oxidation.

• Oxidation: This is a process where the molecular chain easily breaks when the fat reacts with oxygen, especially when exposed to heat, light, or moisture.
• Toxicity: This reaction produces toxic, free-radical particles that are harmful both when consumed internally and applied externally to the skin.

The Problem with Industrial Seed Oils

Industrial seed oils, which are high in PUFAs, have only been in widespread use for the last 100 years. Contrast this with traditional fats like olive oil and beef tallow, which have been consumed and used on the skin since antiquity.

Most seed oils (like soy, cottonseed, sunflower, and rapeseed) require a complicated industrial process involving hydraulic presses, high heat, and extreme pressure to extract the oil. This is far removed from the simple cold pressing used for oils like olive oil.

Today, these high-PUFA seed oils are ubiquitous:

• Fast food and restaurant cooking
• Supermarket ready meals
• The majority of 'natural', 'organic', 'plant-based', and 'vegan' skincare products

Why Saturated Fats are Superior to PUFAs

Fats are primarily categorized into two types: saturated and unsaturated.

Types of Fats and Their Stability

The defining advantage of saturated fats is their complete hydrogen bond, making them far less likely to oxidize. Because our bodies are warm, they provide the perfect environment for unstable PUFAs to oxidize and cause cellular damage.

The higher an oil is in PUFA, the more prone it is to oxidation. For example, Coconut Oil is over 90% saturated fat, making it highly stable, whereas safflower oil is nearly 80% PUFA, making it highly prone to oxidation.

The Dangers of Free Radicals

It is oxidation that makes PUFA so detrimental to health. Oxidation generates free radicals - unstable molecules that damage cells. The higher the PUFA content, the more likely the oil is to cause free radical damage to both your body and your skin, leading to premature aging.

Endocrine physiologist Dr. Ray Peat suggests that excessive PUFA consumption can increase health risks, playing a role in issues such as:

• Reduced immunity and insomnia
• Decreased learning ability
• Substitution of fat for muscle
• Increased inflammation and tissue peroxidation
• Growth of tumors

The Rise of PUFAs: How They Became Widespread

The widespread use of PUFA-heavy seed oils is a result of a system focused on profitability and promotion.

• Industrial Shift: In the 1940s, oils like soy and linseed were used to make paints and varnishes. When chemists found cheaper alternatives in petroleum, the seed oil industry had a huge surplus.
• Feed to Food: Farmers discovered that corn and soybeans were effective, inexpensive ways to make animals gain weight. This led the industry to pivot these crops - and their oil byproducts - from industrial use to animal feed.
• Human Consumption: The same fattening foods that made animals profitable were then promoted as human food, with advertising directing attention away from their inherent fattening qualities and instability.

High-PUFA seed oils, once a waste product, became immensely profitable for Big Agriculture following the invention of the hydraulic press, which made their mass extraction possible.

Avoiding PUFAs in Food and Cosmetics

PUFAs are not just in food; they are also commonly found in cosmetics and skincare products. When applied to the skin, they are just as prone to oxidation and resulting free-radical damage as they are in a frying pan.

Even products marketed as 'natural' or 'organic' can contain damaging high-PUFA oils like argan, rosehip, and grapeseed, which can contribute to wrinkles, sagging, and prematurely aged skin.

How to Shop and Avoid High-PUFA Ingredients

To protect your health and skin, become a savvy label reader:

1. Check Ingredient Order: Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. The closer a high-PUFA oil is to the top of the list, the higher the product's overall PUFA content.
2. Opt for Stable Fats: Look for products using highly stable, saturated oils.
3. Know Your Alternatives: Excellent, stable alternatives include saturated fats like grass-fed beef tallow, mango butter, cocoa butter, shea butter, jojoba oil, and babassu oil.

For instance, beef tallow is chemically similar to sebum (your skin's natural oil), making it a highly effective and kinder moisturiser than high-PUFA alternatives.