Why Track Seed Oil Usage?
🔥 Inflammatory Effects
Seed oils like soybean oil are high in omega-6 fatty acids, which can promote inflammation in the body when consumed in excess. This chronic inflammation is linked to various health issues.
🧬 Processing Concerns
Industrial seed oils undergo extensive processing including bleaching, deodorizing, and chemical extraction. This process can create harmful compounds and remove beneficial nutrients.
🍔 Hidden in Everything
Soybean oil is the most widely used cooking oil in restaurants and processed foods. It's often hidden in bread, sauces, and even "healthy" menu items.
Soybean oil's potential health detriments:
- The imbalance between omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, common in soybean oil, can promote inflammation
- Studies indicate that soybean oil consumption may contribute to the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.
- Emerging research suggests a link between high soybean oil intake and neurological conditions like anxiety, depression, and even potentially Alzheimer's disease.
- Due to its widespread use and sometimes unlabeled presence in processed foods, soybean oil can be a hidden allergen, potentially causing allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.
- The soybean industry, while not directly related to health dangers, also raises concerns about deforestation and displacement of small farmers and indigenous populations
- Soy mimics our own estrogen production, potentially creating hormonal imbalances and thyroid issues.
✨Soy No More Mission
About the Founder
I am a 45 year old entrepreneur, father, and husband in Bergen county New Jersey. I'm not sure exactly when my soy sensitivity started– although I would venture to guess it was at least a decade before I notice. One day while trying to lose some weight I opted to bread my chicken in soy flakes instead of breadcrumbs and boom! I knew the problem. It was still mild and I tried made an effort to avoid soy but could still get the occasional fast food. That all changed when finally got COVID-19 in late 2022. My next soy dose came with severe abdominal pain for days and began visits to the GI which continue to this day.
The Full Problem
This situation was devastating to me. I am a serious foodie who had just spent the last 10 years of his life eating his way through Manhattan and I love everything from a romp to Mission Chinese to a table at Café Carmellini. But what I missed most of all was being able to enjoy good American classic comfort food. Pizza, french fries, and (as you will see from this custom built dataset) cheeseburgers. Soybean oil is in the pizza dough, American cheese, most buns, and the sauce! Not to mention griddle pan sprays and cross contamination. Deep fryers are the biggest culprit, when not pure soybean oil they are often a blend containing it; not just excluding all fryer products and spraying contamination, but a restaurant without strict protocols (lets be honest, its a lot of them) will use the deep fryer for short-cuts to finish a dish.
Soy No More is Born
Although there are a few of my favorites in here, you will find that I largely have not targeted fancy restaurants. They often use more expensive products, spend the extra money to avoid common allergens, and have a broader menu that avoids the fryer even when the oil is soybean. And while there are other trackers for harmful seed oils, allergens, and heathy eating at restaurants, none of them goes deep enough into just soybean oil to be effective enough for me, my stomach, and what I can I only assume is other people out there like me. So I have compiled this list of restaurants, all of which I have either dined at or spoken to personally and can attest to the soybean oil usage in their restaurants.
Remember! Always ask your server before your order and mention any allergens or sensitivities before you eat– but this site should help you find a spot that gets you all the right answers when you do. Happy Dining my sensitive eater!