Years ago I used to eat chipotle once a week, sometimes even twice a week. As a health conscious individual I thought it was the healthier choice. Chipotle claims to source their ingredients from organic local farms and claims to be of a higher quality. Back then in the early chipotle days I believed them but as this restaurant grew there’s no way they could maintain that level of quality with organic and local ingredients and become one of the most successful franchises in the United States.
As someone who values their health you may have believed Chipotle also. Let’s be honest, the food tastes amazing. That barbacoa steak with all of these delicious toppings, salsa, hot sauce, greens, avocado. What’s not to love?
While the ingredients as a whole are healthier the oil in which they cook those ingredients isn’t nearly as healthy as you’d want if you’re spending a now $10-$15 bowls that were once $8 or $9. Thanks inflation!
The oil in which food is cooked is the coating for that food, so if it’s cooked in a healthy oil that food is healthier. If it’s cooked in an oxidized, rancid oil that creates an inflammatory storm in your body, that is not a good thing.
What Oil Does Chipotle Cook its Meat In?
If you google this, you’ll find that chipotle cooks it’s meat in rice bran oil. Seems healthy enough, right? If you look up information online about this oil it speaks highly of it. Saying that it’s a healthy oil.
In fact if you do some searching on rice bran oil you will see only positive results and benefits. Take a look at 10 benefits I found of rice bran oil:
Rice bran oil is extracted from the outer layer of rice, known as rice bran. It has gained popularity due to its numerous health benefits. Here are ten potential health benefits of rice bran oil:
1. Heart Health: Rice bran oil contains high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (otherwise known as PUFA’s, we’ll explore these more later), which can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.
2. Antioxidant Properties: Rice bran oil is rich in antioxidants such as tocopherols, tocotrienols, and gamma-oryzanol, which can help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and reduce oxidative stress.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Some studies suggest that the compounds found in rice bran oil may possess anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the body and alleviate symptoms of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. The reason they claim it is anti-inflammatory is because of the the major unsaturated fatty acids in RBO which are oleic acid (37%–52%) and linoleic acid (27%–41%). These have anti-inflammatory properties, yes. However the omega 3 fatty acid to omega 6 fatty acid ratio in Rice bran oil is what we’ll discuss in regards to inflammation later in this article.
4. Weight Management: Rice bran oil is low in saturated fats and has a high smoke point, making it a healthier option for cooking. Using rice bran oil in place of other cooking oils may help manage weight by reducing overall calorie intake.
This is the claim, but the quality of those calories matter. Managing weight and fat loss is more than calories in and out. The quality of those calories (the macronutrient and micronutrient profile) matter very much.
5. Digestive Health: Rice bran oil contains significant amounts of fiber, which can aid in digestion and promote regular bowel movements. Fiber also helps maintain gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria in the digestive tract.
6. Skin Health: The antioxidants present in rice bran oil can help protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals, UV radiation, and environmental pollutants. Additionally, rice bran oil is often used in skincare products for its moisturizing and nourishing properties.
7. Hair Health: Rice bran oil is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids that can help nourish and strengthen hair. Massaging rice bran oil into the scalp may improve blood circulation, promote hair growth, and reduce dandruff and scalp irritation.
8. Immune Support: The antioxidants and nutrients found in rice bran oil may help support a healthy immune system by protecting cells from damage and boosting immune function.
9. Bone Health: Rice bran oil contains vitamin K, which plays a crucial role in bone metabolism and may help improve bone density and reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
10. Cancer Prevention: Some studies suggest that the compounds found in rice bran oil, such as tocotrienols and gamma-oryzanol, may have potential anticancer properties and could help prevent the development of certain types of cancer.
This is quite debatable as well because the amount of Omega 6 to omega 3’s in the oil.
What is The Real Truth About Rice Bran Oil?
While rice bran oil does offer some health benefits and have some healthy fats in it there was one big, huge, MASSIVE red flag that I discovered while researching this oil.
The Omega 3 to Omega 6 ratio in this oil is 1:20!!
In other words, there is 20x more omega 6’s in this oil than Omega 3’s. This is very problematic because in our society our diets are already rich in Omega 6 fatty acids. We get plenty of omega 6’s in our diets from nuts and seeds like almonds, peanuts, sunflower seeds and even eggs. Tofu also has omega 6 fats. I do not recommend tofu as most soy is GMO! For the record.
Most processed foods in boxes, bags or any type of processed food contains high levels of PUFA oils such as safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, vegetable oil. These oils are high in omega 6 just like rice bran oil.
That is why an oil with a 1:20 ratio of omega 3 to omega 6 is dangerous and bad for your health. Why?
A High Omega 6 Fat Diet Causes These Health Issues..
A diet with too many omega 6 fats and too little omega 3 fats is first and foremost inflammatory. Your body kicks into an inflammatory state to regulate the imbalance of fats. Omega 3 fats are anti-inflammatory. That is why there is omega 3 supplements and not omega 6 supplements.
You may recognize that when you eat chipotle you have an upset stomach or bloating. Years ago when I would eat chipotle 1-2 times a week I would have a bloated stomach and subsequently have gas. The flatulence would occur every single time. My ex-girlfriend at the time would also be bloated and we thought to ourselves, we’re just full on chipotle! But really it was our gut responding to the highly inflammatory rice bran oil.
If you dig deeper into rice bran oil you’ll find that when consumed in high amounts, the side effects of rice bran oil might be harmful to health. Rice bran oil contains omega-6-fatty acids that may even cause cancer. In addition, it might lower blood calcium levels. It might also cause flatulence, gas, and stomach discomfort, exactly what I experienced personally every single time.
Look, is chipotle a better option than McDonalds and burger king, of course. Not even close. At least they serve real food, but the oil that they drown your meat in before they cook it will cause inflammation, bloating, gas and prolonged consumption of it can lead to other more serious health issues.
I no longer eat chipotle, it’s rare that I do. Maybe once or twice a year now when i’m traveling and I don’t have many options. I’d encourage you to cook at home in healthy grass fed butter, or beef tallow whenever you can. I get my organic grass-fed beef tallow from Paleovalley, you can get 15% off this healthy cooking oil by clicking here.
Paleovalley also has fantastic jerky ranging from beef, to turkey to pork that is all grass fed and free from preservatives or other dangerous chemicals added to most jerky. They have flavors like jalapeno, garlic, summer sausage and more. They are all incredibly delicious. The best jerky I have ever had honestly. This is a great snack on the go and taking a few of these to tie you over until your next meal will be much healthier for your gut health in the long run. Click here to get 15% off anything from paleovalley.
Recommended Reading:
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You’re very welcome! I’m glad to hear that you’re open to exploring various topics. If you have any specific questions or areas of interest you’d like to delve into, please feel free to share them. Whether it’s about the latest advancements in technology, recent scientific discoveries, thought-provoking literary works, or any other subject, I’m here to offer insights and assistance. Just let me know how I can help, and I’ll do my best to provide valuable information and engage in meaningful discussions!
Thank you for your response! I appreciate your openness to exploring various topics. If you have any specific questions or areas of interest you’d like to discuss, please feel free to share them. Whether it’s about the latest advancements in technology, recent scientific discoveries, thought-provoking literary works, or any other subject, I’m here to offer insights and assistance. Just let me know how I can help, and I’ll do my best to provide valuable information and engage in meaningful discussions!
You’re welcome! I’m glad to hear that you’re open to exploring various topics. If you have any specific questions or areas of interest you’d like to delve into, please feel free to share them. Whether it’s about the latest advancements in technology, recent scientific discoveries, thought-provoking literary works, or any other subject, I’m here to offer insights and assistance. Just let me know how I can help, and I’ll do my best to provide valuable information and engage in meaningful discussions!