How does the hydrogenation of olive oil affect its healthiness?

Hydrogenation turns unsaturated fat into saturated fat, which is said to be less healthful. But it is done to make fat that is solid at room temperature, rather than liquid.

From what I understand just hearing olive oil ruins some of it’s supposed health effects. Hydrogenation is being slammed left and right as being bad for health.

By the way, Dr. Fuhram quotes studies in his book that olive oil isn’t really what makes a Mediterranean diet healthful, but that the diet has less animal products. He states that Americans substituting olive oil for other oil didn’t really have a big positive health effect, although he does say it’s better than other oil choices. He doesn’t like using any oils that are poured out of a bottle or cut like butter.

He doesn’t like oils that are either poured out of a bottle or cut like butter. Logically speaking that means no oils at all since those are the two ways one finds oil. (unless referring to Margarine which is semi-solid, spreadable and comes in tube.)

But margarine is also a hydrogenated product and a WHOLE lot WORSE than butter ever could be.

So, what does he expect us to do for oil in our diet. You can’t use Avocado for everything.

There are just times when butter works better than anything else (not to mention the stellar flavor boost.)

He likes nuts for fats and oils.

Butter doesn’t seem to be better for me. My body sucks at dealing with cholesterol. Some people have not problem.

I can see that if your body has a problem with butter.

But I’m curious what he uses for cooking. There are healthy nut oils but they come in a bottle, which he apparently feels is forbidden. So how is Almond, Walnut or Hazelnut oil so horrible just because it comes in a bottle?

And for that matter, what’s the matter with Coconut oil? Yes, it’s solid at room temp but it’s not hydrogenated (at least not the kind I have).

I’m just trying to figure out this guy’s point of view and upon what he bases his decree of no oil in bottles. That sounds pretty extreme (altho I do agree that Virgin Olive oil is way over-hyper nowadays.

Fuhrman’s book Eat to Live is a really easy read, a little too elementary and redundant in some ways, but he quotes studies in it. You can probably get it in the library or super cheap online.

I’m not trying to push him, he’s what a lot of people probably think is extreme. I think for people like me, my gene pool, his way is probably the best way. Similar to Ornish they tout vegan diets. Fuhrman says that if you eat animal best if it’s fish, but he also says there is probably some percentage of animal one can have in their diets that is relatively safe. That there is a tipping point, and that he doesn’t know what it is based on any science. That there are no good specific studies on that. I think it’s different for every person.

When I have a cardiac panel done and I’ve been eating without watching my diet much not only is my cholesterol crazy high, but my other fats indicators are too. The ones that indicate high vegetable oils etc. my body just doesn’t stop making cholesterol when I take it in and doesn’t get rid if fats either. Most people don’t have full cardiac panels done, so they don’t know all those numbers.