Why I’ve Finally Stopped Eating Oil
There was a time when going vegetarian seemed extreme. Impossible.
Where will I get protein?
Forget protein, where will I even get the calories?
Then I did it, and it turned out not to be so hard.
Going vegan, though … that was different. Too extreme. I could never do it.
How will I eat out at a restaurant? What will I tell my friends? Where are the calories going to come from now?
And as you know, that turned out just fine too.
But for the past few years, there’s been another “should I or shouldn’t I” conversation in my head — and this time, it’s been about oil. Olive oil, grapeseed oil, coconut oil.
I know it’s not a whole food … but it’s not that processed.
All the vegan doctors say it’s bad, but they mean for overweight people. Not for me, I’m an ultrarunner!
And, one more time: Where will I get the calories?
Keepin’ it Real
I don’t expect this to be a popular blog post. It’s easier to make a made-up “chocolate helps you lose weight” story go viral than a “how I removed the last possible tasty thing from my food” angle. (That’s actually not the case, but I used to think it was.)
In fact, last time I wrote about giving up oil for a few weeks, I got emails from several people calling me irresponsible for suggesting that “heart healthy” oils might actually not be so good for us!
But I’m okay with that. People tell me one of the reasons they read my blog is because I’m transparent — so no sense trying to hide what for me is a sensible next step towards maximum health and energy through food.
Why Oil Doesn’t Fit
When it comes to healthy eating — leaving ethics completely out of it — here’s what I believe:
- Whole foods are good; partial and processed foods are not.
- Too many calories are bad — our health problems are largely the result of chronic overnutrition.
- A simple formula for health, as best there is one, comes from Dr. Joel Fuhrman: “health equals nutrients divided by calories” (H = N/C). In other words, the more (micro)nutrients you can get in the fewest number of calories, while still eating whole foods (per #1, above), the healthier you’ll be.
(Notice that there’s no explicit exclusion of animal products there, by the way. But although “whole,” animal products are calorically dense and, compared to plants, they typically score pitifully on the H = N/C scale.)
So let’s look at how oil fits in with this philosophy:
- Oil is not a whole food (it’s the fatty part of what was a whole food).
- Oil is extremely dense in calories: while vegetables typically have around 100 calories per pound and fruits 300 calories per pound, oil has 4,000 calories per pound.
- Even with all those calories, oil contains little in the way of micronutrition. Valuable omega-3 fatty acids, sometimes, but virtually nothing else.
Once I understood this (about a year ago), I was done with oil.
Except, I wasn’t. Because oil makes food taste really, really good.
How the Change Finally Happened
Like the previous changes, this one started slowly. A big drizzle of oil a few times around the pan to start cooking a meal became a tablespoon. Before too long, that became a teaspoon or two.
But I just couldn’t go all the way.
What finally pushed me over the edge was the vegan Holistic Holiday at Sea cruise that my wife and I went on in March.
There, I listened to doctor after doctor (Barnard, Greger, Campbell, Esselstyn) talk about the “whole food, plant-based diet.” And when they say whole food, they mean no oil.
Then Chef AJ’s talk was where I first saw the caloric density comparison. Here’s a more detailed listing:
Vegetables – 100 calories per pound
Fruits – 300 calories per pound
Unrefined complex carbohydrates, potatoes, whole grains, legumes – 400-600 calories per pound
Avocados – 750 calories per pound
Refined complex carbohydrates – 1,200 calories per pound
Sugar – 1,800 calories per pound
Chocolate – 2,500 calories per pound
Nuts and seeds – 2,800 calories per pound
Oil – 4,000 calories per pound
For people aiming to lose weight, this is huge. The more calorically dense a food is, the less room it takes up in your stomach for a given number of calories, so the more calories you’ll need to eat before you feel full. And yes, I understand that nobody in their right mind eats a pound of oil, but for me, the point was simply that this demonstrated how poorly oil fits in with foods that truly are whole — it’s almost 50% more calorically dense than nuts and the seeds, the next closest foods on the list!
But perhaps more than the information, it was the menu on the ship that changed my tune. Even if you didn’t choose the oil-free menu (we didn’t), many of the dishes were in fact oil-free. Salad dressings, black bean soup, lasagna … even some desserts! And while I’m not going to say “Oil-free food tastes every bit as good as food that’s loaded with it!”, I can say that it doesn’t taste all that different.
This was crucial for me. I’ve loved the actual act of cooking for close to 10 years now. But with each new limitation on my diet, I’ve loved it less and less. This is different from many other vegans’ experience, I know. And that’s wonderful, but if I’m honest, this is how it has been for me.
So the thought of giving up oil, too, was difficult. I just couldn’t bear to start cooking a meal by sauteing lovely, fragrant onions and garlic … in water.
But on the cruise, I ate a lot of oil-free food. And if I hadn’t have known, I wouldn’t have noticed.
That was what I needed. Proof that oil-free food could taste good. And I got it.
A few other factors have helped, in making the change, and making it stick. To avoid making this post too long, I’ll just list them briefly:
- Since oil isn’t an ethical issue for me, I didn’t feel a need to say “no oil, ever.” I committed only to giving it up at home. This represents 90-95 percent of the time (we have young kids and we’re pretty lame) so I get most of the benefits of eating this way without having to feel like I’ve lost something special (i.e. really delicious food every now and then).
- My wife was completely on board (get it? cruise joke?), and set her own health goals after the cruise. She’s lost 18 pounds on this oil-free diet, and has more energy than ever. She’ll be a guest on NMA Radio to talk about this soon, so subscribe if you don’t want to miss that one.
- I gave up oil, not fat. So nuts and avocados — whole-food fat sources — are still very much a part of my diet, though a smaller part than they used to be.
- I haven’t lost a pound, which is a good thing! I was worried that I would drop weight like crazy, especially since I’m training for a marathon again. But nope, apparently my weight is a fighter, and he’s hanging in there. Maybe it’s that I’m still eating the same amount of calories, just getting more nutrition in the ones I do eat.
(By the way, if you want to listen to the podcast recap I did about the cruise and more about oil, listen to that here, the 3/26/15 episode. I’ll be back on the cruise next year, too, this time as a speaker.)
A Final Word
Actually, 170 words:
By now you know that I’m a gradual change, small steps, something is better than nothing kind of guy. I try hard to make NMA content appealing, helpful, and welcoming to people who are at the very beginning of their healthy-lifestyle journey, like I was when I started the blog.
So the last thing in the world that I want is for a post like this to make someone say, “Well, if going vegetarian isn’t enough … and even going vegan isn’t enough … then why should I even bother?”
If that’s you, my answer is that you should still bother. Please, still bother. Don’t do nothing just because you can’t do everything.
This has been a six-year journey for me, and I still eat (well, drink) some foods that I don’t think are healthy *ahem beer wine coffee ahem*. Why? Because I’m not ready to give those up. Yet, or maybe ever.
It’s a process. Do what you can. And keep an open mind.
Something is better than nothing.
Leave a Reply
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Still brainwashed by man made religions huh
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And you, just because you are not brainwashed by a religion think you are less brainwashed than him. Not drinking coffee and alcohol is a big deal. Have some respect!
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Wow! Trolls.
Think I shall unsubsubscribe.
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This is the internet, trolls are e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e
May as well unsubscribe from everything everywhere then. This blog has good info so it’s only really your loss for perpetuating trolls present means bad site.
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100% woke
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Hello, Matt! Nice article! I am in the same boat as you. Went fast food vegan 3 years ago, then plant based vegan soon after. About 6 month ago i ditched oil. I love to cook, there are times when i go home from work at lunchtime just to cook something for my husband and myself, then back to work:) but ditching oil was hard. Nowdays i have serius stomack ache when i eat something oily at a restaurant. The newest thing, on the top of being vegan now is that i decided to go gluten free. Well, i have to tell you, being low fat, whole plant based and gluten free is a real challenge now! But i guess it will be ok once i am comfortable with it. It is scary now, just like it was when i decided to live oil free!
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I did gluten free for 3 months very easily, but that was like 2/3 plant based and then 1/3 junk food vegan. Not sure if I feel the need to do it again, but I’m definitely going oil free soon. I think you can do it pretty easily, especially with all the different types of flour to choose from.
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Hi there Ildiko. I too have chosen to go go vegan, oil free and gluten free! I was recently diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and I have no choice! Can you share some resources!?? Thanks as I have no idea how to cook with no oil!! 🙂
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Many people who feel a need to go gluten free find that fermentation lessens the impact of gluten (and all other lectins as well). If yeast or sourdough bread with regular flour is much less impactful on you than whole wheat regular (baking powder) bread, then you might look into lectins. Some people find European breads less harmful than American breads because the Europeans much more often ferment their breads with yeasts which changes the lectins, including gluten (and the alglutenine [sp?] in the wheat germ which seems to be dozens of times worse for most gluten sensitive people). Other fermented foods help with the colon biome and, over time, have helped many people with there gluten problems.
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I ate a piece(small) of gluten-free bread by mistake, and boy can i tell you that tasted like cardboard. Im sure there better tasting ones out there, but i was surprised, expensive and tastes xtra crap.
Thanks for this. Because of your personal experience with this and the guests on your podcasts, I’ve started thinking about reducing oils, where I never had before. For me this would be mostly swapping out salad dressings and finding alternatives for cooking – I’m still trying to refine my vegan baking and I don’t want to mess with that too much lest I have a complete riot in my household (my husband and kids are not vegan). Oh yes, and not using Earth Balance on my potatoes, sigh. I would appreciate hearing more about some of the changes you end up making as a result of this!
Thanks for the info, I’m not into adding oils and now that I’ve read this, am less into it. I’m 66 years old, have been running for the past 10+ years. Have given up wine and beer(took up running), and no longer miss them at all. Coffee is another story, hah! Main thing I see being a vegetarian for over 40 years, and leaning towards being vegan, is that I am so much more adaptable now(a real survivalist). I won’t suggest that anyone has to do anything alarming, such as giving up beer and wine, however, there is only one way to find out how that impacts you, is by doing it, hah! Keep up the good work, enjoy your blog! John
I have to agree, when I first went vegetarian and then vegan, I enjoyed cooking and creating recipe’s. Now with so many restrictions, because I too know that a multitude of health issues and diseases are not only caused by, but can also be cured by one’s diet, I have started dreading it sometimes. But you are right in saying that you wont notice a difference in taste (I sometimes use vegetable stock to sauté vegetables for a little extra flavor). My question to you is, what type of cookware do you use? I find sticking to be an issue, especially when I bake my vegan, healthy, clean (super awesome) carob chip banana muffins. Even “non-stick” sometimes lies, I need to get new cookware, any suggestions?
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If You Care parchment muffin liners work awesome for muffins and baked goods without oil. I find that baking in glass seems to stick less than metal. And using a cast iron pan. I am whole food oil-free gluten free vegan and loving every minute!
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So how would I cook things in a pan w out oil ?? Is coconut oil ok??? We like to have vegan tacos and things like that but we hear up the tortillas in veggie oil… What’s a substitute
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When I saute in a pan I use vegetable stock/broth instead of oil or water. It adds a bit of flavor and it works just as well. Nothing burns at the bottom of the pan! =)
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I was the Executive Vegan Pastry Chef at a restaurant for many years and I never used oil. I’m baked everything in silicone bakeware and my desserts were quite well known. I use stainless steel or waterless cookware, no oil needed.
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USA Pan makes a nice line of silicone-coated bakeware that I’ve found to be pretty non-stick. Also, using parchment paper, as already suggested.
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I find those silicone baking mats are helpful too. I don’t use oil and have no trouble sauteeing in water or broth.
Great blog topic!! Thanks Matt!
Matt
I have been following your blog for the last couple of years and I must say this is the best post yet.
It’s funny when you think that the Tobacco industry has been punished for it’s products and governments have taken huge steps in educating people about the dangers of using tobacco products and also other restrictions imposed on the industry.
Yet the largest killer by far in the world is heart disease. The largest contributor to that is processed foods and cold pressed oils. Yet nothing has been done to educate people nor restrict the industry, despite the medical advice (that is backed by research) to do so.
Yes, you are a step by step, gradual sorta guy when it comes to adding/changing habits, Matt, and that’s why they stick. Reminds me of Stanford University’s BJ Fogg’s research on the matter. In a nutshell: “tiny habits” stick and the grow up into big ones.
Anyway, this “no oil” position — irrespective of the type of oil — really needs more exposition, IMHO. The debate on this pits very credentialed and smart people against that hypothesis, and thereby leaves us wee mortals quite confused.
I, for one, have been writing a health blog for over six years and read up on nutrition extensively, yet I’m confused. Whole food or not, certain oils get high marks from researchers. If you’re not a vegan, fish oil, for example; if you are, flax seed, or hemp seed oil, etc., etc.
So, my vote is for a follow-up post that digs into the science. I may do one myself, tho a lot more people would read and benefit by one authored by you.
-Joe
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Thanks for this post, Joe. I am in the same boat as you… I am an avid reader of nutrition articles, and as a mom of 3 vegan kids, it is important to me that I am feeding them a healthy, balanced diet. I’ve excluded oils from my personal diet off and on for the past few years. After my most recent experience of being off of oil for over 6 months, I added small amounts back in. I am just not convinced (yet) beyond a reasonable doubt that they are harmful, and, like you, I’ve read some compelling articles from sources in the non plant-based world that are persuasive to me (Harvard School of Public Health and Dr. David Katz, most notably). I cook with olive oil and occasionally with coconut oil (small amounts of both) for my kids and do not think twice about it.
I would agree that people with advanced heart disease may benefit from an Esselstyn/Ornish approach and omit oils and nuts, but I have not seen persuasive evidence that those in good health should avoid it.
The discussion continues!
Great post, Matt!
Would you be willing to share on your blog the new ways and methods you have discovered of cooking with no oils ? I would love to know more about this please !!! I recently discovered the local Asheville brand Roots no oil hummous and it is so completely yummy.
Thank you!
Hi. I have done no research on this, and your post surprised me. I am not claiming to be right, but I question your logic regarding “whole” “foods” because one seems to be an arbitrary definition (“food”) of the “there’s no real scotsman” argument (i.e. that if you don’t say it’s food, it’s not food) and the other is an arbitrary limitation on what parts of the food you must eat.
1. People only eat part of an oyster, for example, or a banana, or a pumpkin, or an avacado, or broccoli, or an orange, etc. Or animals, for that matter (we don’t eat the bones, and most don’t even eat the bone marrow anymore; many of us don’t eat the skin). There is no argument that I am aware of yet about why a “food” is only good if you eat all of it. Saying that eating only part of something, instead of the whole food is bad is arbitrary.
2. This leads me to question your definition of “food” itself. Maybe you will say that a coconut husk or an orange peel is not “food” because it’s inedible. I doubt that’s strictly true though. I think it was Rich Roll who wrote that he blended an avocado pit and drank it when he became vegetarian. That’s food. Some things are hard as hell to eat–maybe a coconut husk or a peach pit is beyond our capability altogether–but so probably is a raw turnip. I believe that there is evidence we ate many much harder things when we were wild, and certainly there is no reason we cannot eat a banana peel or an apple core now (some people do eat apple cores still).
In short, there are lots of things we don’t eat parts of that are edible and those parts are, technically, “food”. So if we don’t eat those parts are we claiming they are not “food” or are we admitting that not eating the “whole” food is not necessary?
I get the argument that squeezing out the most calorically dense part of a food (i.e. the oil) and eating only that part can be problematic because it gives you tons of calories without filling you up.
But is there any other health issue associated with oils?
I have seen references to research that says many of the fats that are abundant in oils are necessary for lots of proper function, like brain function. If you are not getting enough fat-rich foods, eating the oil may be beneficial to you.
P.S. If we accept your logic that our health problems are largely the result of chronic overnutrition (which I do accept), and we know that “calories in” need to be equal to or greater than “calories burned” to prevent weight loss, then how did you manage to not lose weight when you cut out oil, while training for a marathon? That math doesn’t add up, unless you were getting a very small % of your calories from oils in the first place, which would seem to suggest that oils were not really an issue in your diet.
Unless you increased the amount of something else you were eating, but that wouldn’t fit with the “oils take up less space per calorie and leave you hungry” argument, since you would need to be eating way more volume of nuts and veggies to compensate for the calorie deficit from cutting out oils, if the oils were a significant % of your calories in the first place. You’d presumably be feeling pretty full, no?
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Awesome response. This is exactly what I was thinking. Thank you for wording this so eloquently and intelligently.
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Your interpretation of “whole foods” may be a little too literal. Whole does not mean you have to eat a food in its entirety. Whole simply means that nothing good has been taken away (no nutrition removed).
Other health issues with oils? Some authorities say that oils are artery-clogging. Aside from that, if you consider that 20 to 40 olives were needed to make one tablespoon of olive oil, you can be sure that a great many nutrients were removed in the process. Plus, you’re taking in an excess of only one component of a food. Nature intended foods to be consumed in their entirety. I’m calling on your intuition here, I am sure there is a scientific explanation to be found on the interwebs somewhere.
As for the lack of calories: you should try cronometer.com for a while and see just how easy it is to get the appropriate amount of calories on a vegan diet. Carbs and protein will be your best friends.-
Great reply!
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LOL. Guess you have a thing about raw turnips. I’ve always much preferred raw turnips to cooked turnips. Good snack on occasion, good in salads, nice somewhat sweet (mildly) and peppery flavor. Have you ever actually tried a slice of raw turnip? Come on!
I have been an overweight vegan for 4 years, except for a wonderful 5 month period when I adopted a very low fat eating regime. Despite eating an enormous amounts of fruit and raw vegetables, I lost over 40lbs and took up running.
Unfortunately, I reacquainted myself with the fattier foods I crave, and have addictive tendencies towards, and regained much of the weight I lost. This article has inspired me to get back on track, so thank you. I’m also pleased that someone with a voice is saying this. It isn’t popular, especially when some health gurus can be seen pouring olive oil into their blender, and there is so much conflicting information out there. Esselstyn and Campbell have both shown clear evidence that added oils are never healthy, regardless of what is claimed for them, and that removing added oils from the diet can reverse heart disease, the clogging of the arteries, as well as reducing the risk of diabetes – (which is more commonly associated with the intake of sugars). I’m determined to do my first half-marathon in September and this information has helped to reaffirm my conviction and desire. Thanks again Matt.
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PeterP, I could have written your post. It describes exactly where I am, in mind and body, right now. I am also training for a half (tapering, actually) on June 13th, and wish Matt had posted this two months ago – I could be running my race 10 lbs. lighter. Will say goodbye to Earth Balance and EVOO and all other oils today and see what happens. Keeping beer, wine and coffee 🙂
Matt – thanks for your excellent blog and Peter – thanks for making it personal to me.-
Thanks Suzanne for saying this.
Congratulations on all of your efforts – wishing you all the very best for your half marathon on the 13th. Well done.
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Similar story here- I’ve been eating very clean for years and began incorporating a lot more fats/oils into my diet early last year, particularily coconut oil (the benefits, they said!) I’ve always been a little overweight but suddenly gained 20-30 lbs “out of nowhere”, my anxiety shot through the roof, and my digestive system went haywire. Took a look at how my nutrients broke down and saw I was getting well over 50% of my daily calorie intake through fats and very infrequently felt satisfied, and it triggered my tendencies towards an unhealthy, scared relationship with food. I’ve since started being more mindful of the kinds of foods I’m eating and have dropped almost all of the weight- I think I am even drinking beer more frequently than I was before!
Anyways, I know it’s not all so black and white for everyone and I know that some can thrive on diets with a lot of oil, but my experience shows me I need to keep fat intake VERY reigned in.-
What did you eat to lose the weight ? What does a day of food look like? I need help !!
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See Dr. Mcdougall starch diet. Apparently it is the oils and fats that cause weight gain> Not what we’ve been taught, is it? I was paleo til I went vegan. I assumed carbs made me fat (they did when eating fats at the same time). I can eat all the carbs and veggies I want, wholesome breads, whole grains, potatoes, rice, the foods I always loved. Oil has been the hardest thing for me to give up. Still use a little and still lose weight, but oils slow weight loss down.
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Hi Kirsten! I know you left this comment months ago so you may not see this response but I’ll leave it in case anyone else is interested. I still keep an eye on my fat intake and am still doing great- I haven’t gained back any of the weight and I feel energetic! I’m also a fitness instructor and bike commuter and eating this way and eating vegan has worked really well for me. I eat lots of carbs in the form of whole grains, fruits and veg. I don’t eat a lot of bread just because I don’t really care for it but it’s not a disaster if I do. I hesitate to put a “What I eat in a Day” list because I know that can be really triggering for some people but I eat a lot of oatmeal (with protein powder and raisins), sweet potatoes, “bowls” with grains/beans/veggies, smoothies, and I love hummus which is definitely my main source of fat so I make sure to not go too overboard with it. I hope this helps!
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Makes so much sense…nutrient dense fats instead of calorie dense oils! Easy to make dressings with avocado, seeds, fruits, herbs, chia seeds and fruit.
Apart from the content of the post Matt, which by the way was excellent as it almost always is, this time your writing style was more engaging than ever. I and so many others have learnt so much from your journey and was excited to know there will be (mostly) 2 stories per week.
By the way when do the new singlets arrive, I want to wear mine at the Cambodia Angkor marathon in August?
Ian
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I’d love to know when the shirts will be restocked as well! I can’t wait to get one.
Thanks for writing about oils. I started as a vegetarian in the mid-80s and thanks to my introduction to Drs. John McDougall, Joel Fuhrman, Caldwell Esselstyn and some others, I switched to a whole foods plant-based eating style in 2006. I am a cold turkey kind of guy and do best just saying no when I decide something is not good for me. I did that with cigarettes in 1963. Oils have been the exception. My wife does most of the cooking in our family, and she was reluctant to completely abandon oils in her cooking, however, in the past couple of years she has mostly done so. She usually uses vegetable stock to saute. Restaurants are a different matter. It is very hard to find a restaurant meal with no oils, especially in vegetarian and vegan restaurants. My approach is to eat very little, if any, oil at home, but I do loosen up in restaurants. I was in an Italian restaurant recently. I ordered ww pasta with marinara and vegetables. I said to the waitress, “Please eliminate, or at least minimize, the olive oil.” She responded, “Sir, if you don’t like olive oil, why to you come to an Italian restaurant?” Guess she had a point. So, I am sure the sauce had ample olive oil. So with oil my approach is ‘once in awhile will not hurt’. Actually, I use that philosophy with dark chocolate as well (:–. My favorite restaurants are Asian. I can usually get an oil-free meal with veggie sushi in a Japanese restaurant. Other than that, most of my restaurant meals have a little oil, as little as I can negotiate.
I am Italian and will use olive oil, a healthy substance, daily, until I die.
I am not vegetarian. but moderation, a balanced diet, portion control, and thoughtfulness are at the heart of a healthy diet.
I respect your perspectives, but to say, directly or indirectly, that something like olive oil should be eliminated from ones diet flies in the face of thousands of years of civilization, especially in Mediterranean nations.
I love your stuff, but this sounds like you are sliding into unwarranted extremism. I think I will stick with my people and my culture, who overall are far more healthy and balanced than Americans.
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Sandra, you need to understand that Matt is a self-flagellant, always looking for new ways to punish himself and he will continue to do this until he dies……This blog on oils being harmful is arrant nonsense…..Jesus just 2000yrs ago proclaimed the value of olives, so presumably the oil they contain, and, the amount of oil used in cooking is so small as to be of no effect, even if it was unhealthy……Use olive, coconut and bran oils without any fear of harmful effect.
Incidentally, real fresh barista-made coffee has multiple health benefits and this is well documented, but, the stewed on the stove rubbish that Americans drink is harmful.
Am I qualified to comment? Yes, a medical scientist who spent years working amongst primitive ppls in Third World countries and for my 82nd birthday last week, I did a skydive from 12,000ft and an abseil of 50m down a jagged cliff face followed by a Boot Camp session.-
If I had been given permission to speak at The Mount of Olives, I reckon I would big-up the local produce too.
Congratulations on being so adventurous, healthy and living life to the full at age 82. It is something we can aspire to.
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Sandra,
As a person of Spanish, specifically Catalan heritage olive oil was in pretty much every Spanish meal my mom or grandmother cooked for us as children and adults. As a teenager my parents were supportive of my vegetarian lifestyle and many of the peasant foods my grandmother grew up on were naturally both vegetarian and vegan, but not oil-free.
However, you should have seen the look on my mother’s face a few years ago when I made the comment that olive oil was not as healthy as they claimed it to be. You would have thought that I had made the most personal insult about something she held dearly, and to a degree I had. At that point it became clear to me how deeply entrenched certain ingredients are in our heredity and cultural identity. I don’t think olive-oil will go the way of cigarettes where it is universally vilified. On occasion, if the occasion and quality of food is right I will have oil, and you better believe there is only one type of oil for me. I say on occasion because after struggling to increase my HDL and lower my Triglyceride levels on first a vegetarian, then vegan diet I finally achieved a dramatic turn-around by not consuming oil, or products that contained oil. I lost over 60lbs, all gained from when I when back to eating meat for a 5 year period. For me this works, and while it is difficult and I have to say no to foods I love, it is worth it.
I think many are tired of the back and forth from researchers and scientists and resent being told to do one then, then years later be told the opposite. The very foods we are told that are bad are often the same foods that our extended family trees consumed for years without problems. The problem is that their portions, activity levels, and quality of food vastly differed from what we have here today. In our modern world oil is used as a cheap filler to boost flavor and mouth-feel. I now view store-bought crackers and breads contain oil as beneficial only to the bottom line of companies that make them rather than the market that consumes them. The majority of these products contain the cheapest of oils, yet are priced if they contained Denominazione Origine Protetta-labeled Italian Olive Oil. Our ancestors did not have their health impacted by these cheap and plentiful foods. In the end no food, practice, or habit should be banned, but it is important to note that a cultural identity is not rooted in, nor does it collapse by a single ingredient.-
Yes!! Great feedback! ❤️❤️
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Amen, Sista . . . !
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Thank you!
I don’t know. Love your philosophy and I totally hear what you’re saying about oil. But I look at it this way: I’m 56, have been vegetarian for over 30 years and I run over 50 miles a week. I’m a hair’s breath from begin vegan. I don’t do coffee, beer or wine so I see it as an equal exchange. I’ll eat my veggie’s sauteed in coconut oil but forego the coffee, beer and wine and you can drink your coffee, beer and wine and forego the yummy oils. Deal? P.S. I’m probably the only person in the world who has never drunk a cup of coffee-ever. Just never had the urge plus the taste is dreadful to me. Ditto beer and wine. Again, just never had the urge. But my oils–oh, oh, my!
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You are not alone in the world, I have never drunk a cup of coffee in my life, either.
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If you have never drank a cup, how did you know the taste is dreadful?
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😁😂
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As a committed vegetarian for over 30 years, have always been “on the fence” about oils. Have cooked with water but my family complain…….they are teenagers!!!!
But after reading this post, I’ll be back on the oil-free wagon as heating the greasy stuff has never inspired as a healthy way of life.
Thank you for this post which really makes me think about my oil/fat consumption. At the point I am now, I cannot imagine giving up oil for sautéing, but I guess that’s just a point of adaption. But I really love salads, which means I usually eat a salad for dinner. For the dressing, I usually combine one table spoon of oil and vinegar (plus salt and pepper). What would you recommend as an oil subsitution in dressings?
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Whole Foods actually has oil free dressings and the Engine 2 Diet and My Beef With Meat have a number of oil free salad dressing recipes. None of their recipes use oil.
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Doro: you can blend up some avocado and water (or zucchini) to use as a no oil, but not no-fat sun for oil. For a no-oil and no-fat option, blend a bit of guar gum with water. Balsamic vinegar makes atasty dressing on its own, with no oil (or sub) needed.
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We like balsamic vinegar on salads and do not really miss the oil. The juice of tomatoes or fruits in the salad add to the flavor with the balsamic vinegar.
It’s about time!
[…] …and now the NoMeatAthlete has also cut oils out of his diet. […]
I remember reading a book by Joel Fuhrman saying the same thing about oil not being a health food.
I keep flirting with becoming oil-free but the habit has yet to stick for more than a couple of weeks at a time. I can do without most oils but I only just recently discovered the wonders of coconut oil and it just keeps luring me back. Vegan baking also doesn’t feel the quite same when subbing applesauce for oil. Sigh… maybe someday.
I’ve been inching away from oil as well. I hadn’t bought any in ages, and I brough a bottle home with me not too long ago. I use significantly less than recipes call for. The taste isn’t what it used to be. Last night I went to a restaurant and ordered my favorite dish of roasted veggies. Good heavens they were doused in oil, my poor veggies. At home, sometimes instead of plain water, I’ll add veggie broth for some flavor mmm better than oil by a long shot.
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I often use a vegan “chicken”-style broth to saute. And if sauteeing just water-rich veggies, like onions, I often don’t need anything: just cook over medium heat and don’t stir too soon (stirring seems to relese some of the moisture that keeps things from sticking).
Thank you for this post! I’ve been listening your podcast for some months and started to use less oil since you talked about your experience in the cruise.
I don’t usually need to make changes slowly: I went vegan from one day to another more than a year ago, and it was easy for me to stop taking sugar.
But with oils… I am Spanish and my family produces its own extra virgin olive oil, so I always have had amazing quality olive oil at home (almost for free). I am living now in the US, so no more free olive oil 🙁 Maybe it’s a sign. I have been using less oil in my recipes and I have to say it’s going better than I thought, so far.
I love cooking and trying new recipes, and with every “limitation” in my diet, I see a new opportunity to try something new. I don’t think I’ll go completely oil-free, but I’ll definitely continue using less in my cooking.
Thank you for sharing with us even your “less popular” experiences and thoughts.
YAYYYY NO OIL! I’m a loyal herbie and am so happy to see this post! I lost weight effortlessly just by cutting out oil, and my body is so happy with the change.
Thank you for the great post. I recently did a 9 day juice fast which resulted in a sense of having a re-set button pushed on my energy, clarity of mind and attitude that goes back 30 years.
During the fast I learned it is fun to juice whole lemons and limes and grapefruit. I have thought about the oil aspect of healthy eating for a while now and realized there may be natural sources of oils (like citrus fruit skins) in whole foods that we don’t really think of. I did allow myself my morning tea (am allergic to coffee – darn it) and after day 6 I just didn’t want or need it. It’s been a few weeks and I’ve only had tea socially, but it is no longer a part of my morning habit. I didn’t set out to have that change, it just happened.
Anyway, I loved your post and a 95% kind of gal on my whole-foods plant based diet and am loving my food more than ever. YUMMY:)
Run on!
Matt,
I have followed your blog for a few years now since I became vegetarian and recognize that you report honestly on your own personal findings without trying to push your beliefs/findings as “gospel”. Thank you for that refreshing delivery of news! After much experimentation on my part, I find I do best with a nice mix of oil-free meals and a small amount of oil in just a few of my meals. If I cut it out entirely, my energy lags and I crave more sugar. I do a lot of high intensity interval workouts and lifting more than I run now and find that if I switch to more running, I don’t miss the oil as much, but I do start to get more achy joints (and I’m only 27, but with a knee repair from a soccer injury years ago). So I have adopted the mindset that each person thrives on a slightly different diet. Though the basic formula, as you’ve said, is nutrient dense calories as much as possible.
Each to their own, but really unhelpful not to compare serving with serving, rather than slightly absurd lb to lb comparison! In moderation it will do no harm. Yes, it is processed but let’s be honest/confrontational – some processing does little harm. The biggest ‘processing’ of all is cooking food – it changes the taste, texture and structure of food. But few (though there are a few!) criticise it because it releases more nutrients. So I think the demonisation of oil is a little puritanical, and really just touching at the edges. A generally healthy lifestyle with an occasional indulgence (like your beer) can lead to a happy life! Still love your blogs though!
Hey, Awesome! I have been secretly, and patiently waiting for you to reach this conclusion!!:) I think it took me three years to make the switch due to the darn hormones. However, I have been eating low-fat, gluten free, plant-based for the past three years, and have never felt more awesome. My goal was to have daily bathroom visits. (On the standard American, and standard Vegan diet I was averaging one every several days. I could not understand why a healthy vegan diet was giving me issues.) But, then, wonderful Rip entered the mainstream discussion on healthy plant based diets. I jumped in, and truly believe that going oil free, and low fat are true energy boosting, life-giving, “make one feel awesome everyday” additions to my life. So, thank you for this post. Hopefully the message will reach more minds.:)
Hey Matt,
Great post about the question of whether or not to consume oil (even olive oil!). I’m incrementally decreasing my consumption of olive oil, slowly but surely. I too watched a speech by Dr. Esselstyn (here’s the video if anyone is interested — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8yikz5bOEQ) in which he talked about the consumption of oil for reversing heart disease.
As a fit, college student vegetarian with a really clean diet my first thought was, “I don’t think Esselstyn is talking to me about the oil thing.” But then I thought, “Why not be healthier if I can?” So I’ve started slowly cutting it out. Not being too hard on myself though! 🙂
Another thing Esselstyn talks about in the video is about the consumption of too many nuts. But that’s for another day…
All the best,
Josh
Terrific blog post Matt!!! So many of the great, elite vegan athletes and body builder shun oil (Rip Esselstyn, Robert Cheeke, to name a few) and look at them! Even if it weren’t so calorically dense and nutrient poor, it injures your arteries so why consume it? And even if there were something remotely healthy in the olive oil, the coconut oil of the flax oil, would it not also be present in the olive, the coconut or the flax seed? So eat the WHOLE FOOD, with all the fiber, water and micronutrients, and not the disease promoting refined and processed oils. Like salt and sugar, fat is addictive and that’s why people say they like it. If they really liked it they would drink it, but they don’t because it’s disgusting. What they like, and are addicted to, is they stimulation of dopamine in their brains from eating such a calorically dense food. If you are worried about getting enough fat (and how many Americans do you know that are fat deficient?) eat whole, raw unsalted nuts or have some ground flax or chis seeds.
Love & Kale,
Chef AJ
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Thank you. Finally some common sense.
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Love and Kale back to you!
Thank you so much for this post!
I turned my life around about 4 years ago now attempting to eat a no-oil/ whole food/ vegan diet. There were a lot of cheat days, but I still lost 25 pounds and got rid of my traces of insulin resistance. I started graduate school a year ago and slowly but surely stopped cooking for myself and became very dependent on Amy’s and eating out. I have since gained 10, very obvious to me and my wardrobe, pounds. I have the summer off from school and am in need of great encouragement like this to start cooking again (without oil, of course). My health is still not great, and I had to stop running two years ago, but slowly but surely I hope to get to where I want to be. Keep up the awesome work!
DD
Hi,
Oil is a oxygenated junk food!. It kills more USA athletes than anything else. In countries where oil is not used we dont find premature death among athletes / runners. Stay away from it.
And please NO more oil industri propaganda.
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Very well said. There is an excellent chapter on oil, and the fact that added oils are never healthy, in Esselstyns’s: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease. It includes the studies that originated the ‘heart-healthy oil’ myth, how the initial results were leapt upon by the fad creators with vested interests (the latter, my own words) and the worrying follow up report that has been completely left out, namely: that 25% of the participants either died or had cardio-vascular events in the subsequent four years of the study.
He points out that olive oil is “between 14%-17% saturated, artery-clogging fat – every bit as aggressive as saturated fat in roast beef.”
A clean diet, without added oils, is the ONLY natural, non-invasive and safe way to reverse heart disease and clogged arteries.
Just a point to those who rightly state that oils are necessary for good health: most whole foods, in balance, contain the perfect amounts of oil needed for robust health. Even celery – 10% of its calories comes from oil. I wouldn’t want to eat a ton of them to get my quota, but we can get sufficient oils from moderate use of avocado, nuts, seeds and plenty of fruits and vegetables. Quote is from: Prevent And Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell B Esselstyn, Jr, M.D.-
Fat from food is necessary, but oil (the extracted fat) is not. Whole foods contain fat/fatty acids, not oil.
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An interesting article and I’m hoping this is the solution to my problem. After reading about the health benefits of coconut oil and living in the Caribbean I now think I have been overdoing the oil. After eating the same food, running every day and doing a physical job I have managed to gain 10lbs in the last few weeks 🙁 One thing I have been doing is frying off my onions and veggies in a couple of tablespoons of coconut oil and then I sometimes have a spoon as a chefs perk, cos its healthy right?? Do you think this is maybe responsible for my weight gain? What should I do instead, use water?
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Sossage, the conventional wisdom used to be that a “calorie is a calorie”, meaning that all foods of the same calorie count will have the same affect on the body.
Now the thinking is that different foods innately have different metabolic effects on the body, so that, for instance, a 300 calorie twinkie will be more fattening than a 300 calorie salmon. (Am I allowed to write that on a vegan blog?)
Which brings me to coconut oil. Some pretty smart people argue about whether it’s beneficial to people, but regardless of that, it’s calorie dense and those calories will add up.
Try reducing your coconut consumption by half and see what happens. You can always saute in vegetable stock.-
Thanks Joe, I understand what you say about calorie for calorie foods and for that reason I don’t get too hung up about calories but after reading this article it has dawned upon me that my liberal use of coconut oil is adding up!!
I am definitely going to reduce my consumption this week and see whether there is any difference on the scales. I’m really hoping so 🙁 It’s my only vice I don’t eat anything processed, no sugar all whole foods.
Sossage (eeek hadn’t even thought my nickname might offend – hope not)
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Excellent article. I am a strict nutritarian and I am constantly teaching my family, friends and clients how eliminating oil can make a huge difference in their health and their weight. Oil is not necessary for any reason.
Great post, Matt! I agree that this topic is not yet one to incite masses to immediately join your “side”; even many alternative health practices still proclaim the benefits of oil.
But I am with you on this. I don’t go out to eat too often, but when I do, it’s to a restaurant my boyfriend “can eat at” (my boyfriend is very much the SADD partaker – for the time being ;D ), so I accept that I’ll be eating oil on those occasions. But I always feel the difference later! Lethargy comes over me as we’re finishing the meal, and doesn’t leave me until the next afternoon. The oil plus the salt I don’t otherwise eat leave me puffy and stiff the next day.
I think this is an awesome decision you and your wife have made. Congratulations and thank you for he transparency in your updates! -Kirra
Oh my beloved olive oil?
Ok, so I’m ready to reduce my oil to improve my health and save some money, but I was going to make a bean salad today which has half a cup of olive oil. Less oil and more water?
What do you suggest?
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I made bean salad this morning! I used this recipe (with no oil): http://plantpoweredkitchen.com/?s=Three-bean+salad
I also have a couple of no-oil mayonnaise recipes. -
Basically all salads that call for oil can be omitted. None of my family members and even myself ever notice the difference.
Hi, i am back again, bacause this is the second time i read that someone says that it is hard to give up oil because of their culture, herritage ect. Well, i am Hungaian, my culture is to eat nothing but oil, meat and paprika… I think being open minded about what is healthy and what is not has nothing to do with being Italian, Spanish or Hungarian. If i ate what my people eat, i would be 20 lbs overweight. It is not easy when i go home but i just use my good judgment when i say no to oil, fat, meat, dairy and keep the veggies… And the paprika:)))
Great post, and thanks for sharing your oil-free journey! I realise not everyone is keen on giving up oil, personally I prefer my food much more without it. I’ve also noticed far better muscle recovery (particularly after hard workouts) since giving it up, and I generally just feel a lot better on whole, plant foods.
Thanks, Matt, for sharing your journey! The process for me has been so similar. I was on that vegan cruise too and brought my three kids. We love the vegan lifestyle and rarely find the need for oil! Unfortunately I won’t be able to make it next year. My daughter was the 16 year old who sang “Oceans” at the talent show if you happened to attend. Our cat is 85%vegan too, by his choice. Favorite foods are bananas, kale, oatmeal, black beans, tofu. He is very healthy. Go figure!
The “no-oil” stance isn’t based on any particular science; it’s all about the personal beliefs of a handful of doctors. And, I just don’t get it. Why would anyone want to create *another* barrier to veganism when most people find it so difficult anyway. Unless you can cite research showing that oil-free = better health for vegans, why jump onto this bandwagon. Millions of animals suffer and die every day, and vegans are trying to make the (completely erroneous) case that olive oil is bad for you??
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Ginny, I agree with you that it’s a mistake to tie “no oil” in with veganism, and to present to someone who is just approaching plant-based diet for the first time the advice that they should also stop eating oil. From everything I’ve learned about change, the way to adopt something is gradually, in very small steps. I wish more of the doctors who do believe that oil is harmful would make it removing it a later step in the process. Same with salt.
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Personal benefit? The work of these “handful of doctors’ have benefited countless people. The work done on the reversal of heart disease by these pioneers like Dr. Dean Ornish and Dr. Caldwell B. Esselstyn, Jr. has been researched extensively and published in respected medical journals. How many scientific articles have you published? No oil is not a barrier as it helps many people reverse their diabetes, heart disease, obesity and food addictions. The animals really do not care why we aren’t eating them, and many one time ethical vegans, some who sre even bestselling authors, are no longer vegan because they had health problems on a junk food vegan diet. If you look up the work junk food in the dictionary it says a food that is high in calories and low in nutrients. At 4,000 calories a pound, with no waters fiber or nutrients, oil fits that definition perfectly!
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Ginny, I don’t think the doctors wanted to create another barrier. They want to share what they believe the preponderance of studies and their personal experience with patients proves. It amazes me how people challenge what the doctors believe but let the food industry slide as long as it fits their choices.
I would love some resources on how (not just why) to eat an oil free diet. I’m intrigued by your post, but I can’t even begin to imagine how/with what I would substitute oil in most of my recipes. Oil-free salad dressing? Sautéing garlic and onions in water? Any suggestions you have on how to make the shift to oil-free would be much appreciated!
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There are many wonderful plant based cookbooks that are oil free such as mine, UNPROCESSED, and all the books by Dr. Esselstyn and Dr. McDougall, to name just a few. Many great oil free websites such as straight up food and fat free vegan. Here are some dressing recipes for you:
https://sites.google.com/site/hgkprintablerecipes/big-list-of-no-oil-salad-dressings
http://www.healthygirlskitchen.com/2013/09/the-big-list-of-oil-free-salad.html
Love & Kale,
Chef AJ-
Great list! I’m printing it out right now. Thanks for sharing, AJ.
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of course. their are tons of oil free recipes at http://www.drmcdougall.com too.
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Hi – do you have a resource for some NO OIL snacks? It seems all snacks even baked ones have oil added to them. It would be handy for my kids. It is easier for me to snack without oil but in their lunches I seem to get stuck sometimes. I can only feed them so much fruit and veggies before they riot. Eliminating snacks/chips/foods baked/fried in oil has changed my hormones and skin drastically!
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Dreena Burton has a book with lots of ideas called Plant Powered families. I am interviewing her on my podcast in August.
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Maria, my absolute favorite salad dressing is nutritional yeast, himalayan salt, pepper, crushe garlic and some balsamic vinegrette. The i add some water to it so this whole thing looks like a dressing. Mmmmm it is sooo good!!!
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Great idea… just recently got turned on to nutritional yeast and love it. Will try your recipe.
Matt,
I am surprised you did not bring up how fat damages our endothilial cells. Dr. Esselstyn talks about this often. I would recommend everyone look this up, it really is important to eat in a way that keeps us from damaging our own veins, so our blood can flow in an optimal manner.
Karen
Matt, your work is an inspiration to many and thank you for being you!
The way you made the transition portrays the power of kaizen. You have my respect. Keep inspiring!
Coconut oil literally is fat. I can understand trying to cut out foods that you change (negatively) via cooking, but if your get some extra calories through saturated fat in uncooked coconut oil there isn’t much more of a problem than getting those calories through the saturated fats in nut or avocado. And saying “overnutrition” seems like you’re being repetitive or reductive since eating more carbs and fewer proteins and fats is bad, but if you have significantly more (than values recommended by the fda and similar organizations) of certain vitamins it won’t hurt you.
Healthy fats and oils make us feel full and contain vital nutrients improving brain function, skin and hair integrity, cholesterol levels and also help reduce weight. the valuable oils are Omega3, cold pressed virgin olive oil, avocado oil, bran oil (for high heat cooking), coconut oil, and flaxseed oil. The amount of these oils that need to be used in cooking is very small hence it is foolish to quote calories per pound etc.
Note that in the definitive study of the Blue Zones of Longevity around the world, everyone one of them consumed oil and they were mostly centenarians, which makes me wonder how long some of you avowed masochists on this website will live to. The question is: Why do you spend your time looking for new and radical ways to live your lives? I think that Matt has lost his way which is a shame because many of his previous posts have been informative.
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According to the scientific research done by Dr. Susana Holts, fats and oils actually have weak satiety when compared to starch. As far as Omega 3 fatty acids are concerned. they are not found in oils. Processed oils contain Omega 6. Omega 3 is actually highest in purslane and also find in flaxseeds and chia seeds. Any “vital nutrients” found in oils are also contained in the whole foods that the oil was made from. So eat the olive, coconut, flaxseed and avocado rather than their oils which contain no fiber or nutrients. And not everyone in the Blue Zones consumed oil. I actually met quite a few of them while doing research in Loma Linda (one of the Blue Zones) and many of those studies were whole food plant based.
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Fair comment Chef, but I’m only suggesting a small smidgen of these healthy oils be used in some types of cooking…..I am familiar with the Seventh-day Adventists of Loma Linda and their vegetarian lifestyle, a great advertisement for healthy eating, but, last time I shared a meal with them, they were including small amounts of oil from the four plants that you mention. When we are both centenarians, we must get together for a celebratory drink..Cheers..
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Matt: I am not vegan or vegetarian – not even close. But, like you, I have also been cooking oil-free for about three years now. Also, like you, the changes came gradually. I started wondering why it took 3 or tablespoons of oil to cook a simple skillet meal and started tweaking more and more until it was gone entirely. My husband and I didn’t really notice the difference! People eat at my house all the time and don’t know the difference! I think they would be surprised.
Now for me, quite honestly, the motivation was hunger vs. how many calories I could eat per day and still lose/maintain weight. There is no getting around it: I am hungry pretty much all the time. I run 5 or 6 days per week, which helps keep the weight down, but it’s not the cure-all. So when I started cutting out oil, it was, to a large degree, because I wanted to be able to eat large meals but still stay within a certain calorie range for the day.
My answers to that were: 1) cut out all the oil; and 2) bulk up dishes with more vegetables. And it worked. I have kept 80 pounds off for the last few years while feeding my seemingly endless appetite with nutritious, unprocessed, oil-free, homecooked food (I eat out maybe twice per month for lunch).
My friends and family have questioned it and told me I need fat to be healthy. Bah. I eat plenty of good fats from natural whole foods. Oil does not need to part of that equation.
Although, to be candid, I do use half a tablespoon of sesame oil in some of my stir fries because it just tastes too wonderful with scallions and ginger and garlic to leave it out. 😉
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Hi Melissa,
I really appreciate your comment. I work with many clients who do not wish to go plant based but once we get the dairy and processed oils out of their diets, they still effortlessly lose weight. So thanks for pointing that out.
Love & Kale,
Chef AJ
Ugh. I Googled “why should i give up oil,” and this was the first thing that popped up. My hubby and I have talked about omitting oil from our diet, but haven’t made the change yet. He said he used to eat oil free for a time before we met. We definitely don’t eat as much as we used to, but I do like to roast potatoes and veges a lot, and, of course, use oil for that (although I found a “no-oil oil” recipe online that’s supposed to make nice roasted veges).
After reading this post, I’m more convinced that we DO need to give up the free oils in our diet. Someone else’s comment suggested you give us tips on what changes you made. Is that possible? Probably we just need to do it, and get used to the changed flavors. Ugh. I’m not one of those cooks that can just throw things together and make a great meal… I have to follow a recipe and only slightly do I modify things. Not looking forward to this change, and how my dishes will turn out, but I know I have to do it.
One other comment. We neither like vinegar of any variety, nor do we believe it is healthy, although that’s a hard thing to prove to people. It seems like most plant-based cookbooks are heavy with vinegar recipes. Do you use a lot of vinegar?
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Why isn’t vinegar healthy? Could you please provide the scientific evidence for that as I have never heard that and I am a graduate of the ECornell program in plant based nutrition. All oils, on the other hand, harms the endothelial cells and contributes to obesity, diabetes and heart disease. Have you tried all of the flavors of reduced balsamic vinegars? There are at least 40 flavors. My favorites are from http://www.bemaandpas.com and Napa Valley Natural Grand Reserve aged 18 years.
Chef AJ, i just bought a double waffle maker for my family and was wondering if you have any idea as to how i can use it without oil. I plan on making the batter with buckwheat flover and mashed bananas. I would so love to enjoy this but not sure how as i dont eat any oil either. Thank you i
I just heard about going oil free and found your article. I have very poor health and am trying to figure out what to eat to regain my health. I take tons of oils. I eat (organic) butter, olive oil, avocado oil and coconut oil. I recently started taking a lot of evening primrose oil, borage oil, black cumin seed oil, krill oil and fish oil – specifically for crohn’s disease, candida and eczema. I also do oil pulling with coconut oil and sesame oil. Then I heard that sick people should cut out all oil to get well! I am very confused, does anyone have any input to help me figure out what to eat. Do I have to stop all of these oils, even the oil pulling? Many thanks.
To be honest, I struggled with reading this one much further than :Oil – 4,000 calories per pound’. You made no attempt to compare standard portions e.g. a tablespoon of oil in a stir fry for two people, compared with standard amounts of vegetable. and the fact that – laudable as your wife’s weight loss was – unless she was drinking pints of this stuff, this alone wouldn’t have made that significant a contribution to an 18lb loss. I regret, for me, this damaged your credibility big time. And I do love all your other writings and your life approach!
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To the contrary, Matt’s credibility is enhanced significantly by his stance on oil. Matt has been brought to this position by extremely reputable Doctors and by an independent investigation of the science. Unfortunately, these two things are far more significant than anything “Bill” might have to say on the topic.
The challenge with “vegan doctors” is they all focused on preventing / reversing heart disease. This is very different than optimizing for health and longevity. You really have to get clear on what your goal is, if it’s health and longevity, you can create some huge problems eating low fat / low protein. Vegans rarely get blood work done instead we use “logic science” and epidemiological evidence to back up our ideas – this is not always bad, but it’s easy to come to the wrong conclusions. Most people who have been vegan for years are shocked to learn their blood glucose levels are elevated, often to the pre-diabetic range from high carb (yes, even complex carbs). I know the eyes are rolling and many have their fingers on their keyboard ready to yell “the fat you eat is the fat your wear” and similar axioms… but seriously, blood glucose is an excellent predictor of all kinds of problems, including heart disease, and no one looks it until they are 60. A tester kit costs 20 bucks. People always ask us, “Where do you get your protein?” the real question is, “How do you avoid over-eating carbs of all kinds?”
In terms of calories, restriction is only an issue if you’re eating high carb. I’ve eaten 4500 calories a day with 60% fat (all plants) for over a year and couldn’t keep weight on. I weighed 149 lbs at 5 ft 11. Just my 2 cents…
(for reference: I’m 100% vegan since 2002)
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Please clarify. I don’t think you are suggesting eating animal protein to avoid diabetes, correct?
Possibly some raw nuts, avocado?
Or, do you just eat veggies and no grains?
Hi Matt, I know this post is older, but I’m new to NMA, so it’s new to me :). My question: does this new no oil realization suggest cutting it from the perfect smoothie?
My Husband is on an oil free and animal protein free diet due to carotid and coronary artery disease. We have tried to use a lot of recipes from Dr. Caldwell B, Esselstyn, Jr’s book: ” Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” but want a lot more easy oil free and animal protein free recipes. I am not finding any on the internet or in recipe books. I would appreciate any help. Thank you, Betty
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I started the same diet 2 months ago because I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and I picked up Dr. Esselstyn’s book too. I’ve had a difficult time fixing appetizing meals due to the lack of sodium and fat in the diet (mostly sodium though). I don’t mind the lack of meat or dairy since I was a vegetarian for a little over 20 years before I started eating meat again. Everything I eat tastes sweet now because it has no added salt. Ironically some food still tastes great by itself like it used too because I always liked them plain. Spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, turnip greens, mustard greens, collards, peppers, green beans, peas, okra are all some examples so I rely heavily on these but other foods like rice, potatoes, whole grain pastas and breads are difficult to stomach. I’ve tried salt free seasoning blends but they either make it lemony, or peppery but they don’t help. I’m interested in finding simple recipes with veggies and fruits and even grains normally not in a typical American diet.
Best wishes to you and your husband with your new eating habits.
I’ve been vegan 30yrs. And on a low-no fruit & grain alkaline diet for 2 years. As my body evolves, I’m finding raw oils make me sick too. I just tried a MC and not too happy.
Too much sugar. I’m not an athlete;- though my mother was an Olympic Japanese gymnast and brother was a relay runner.
What my body likes is different from nutritionist reccomendations. Ie., pea protein & enYmes
Trying to revise my diet again after this long is difficult, but your article makes sense. Happy to read it! Thought I was the only one who was rejecting processed oils.
For those that are oil free, please don’t do like one commenter mentioned and go to an Italian restaurant asking for low/no OLIVE olive oil. It’s ridiculous requests like this that cause people with medically necessary food restrictions and legitimate special requests to experience eye rolling, poor service, have their request ignored (causing hospitalization). If you have a very specific food *preference* that borders on impossible, please leave it at home, and order dishes that are generally prepared without the food you prefer to avoid.
Oh…this is not rocket science…whole foods…cooked or raw…please support your brain and hormone health…do not confuse oil free with whole food free…worry about your B12 (do you want to have to go to the health care person for B12 shots?), D, Ca++, natural gut hormone bacteria from ?…yogurt is a natural fermented bacterial culture that has supported many generations (I support no religion…but loaves and fishes…apparently fed many…contained gluten plus pesco vegetarian only)…big business, people selling their book, whatever…eat whatever you like that was not touched by a food manufacture (that’s going to sell…lol)…but more importantly…exercise 1-2 hours a day
I love your attitude of “don’t just do nothing because you can’t do everything! Just briefly, I began on my journey to a lifestyle change back in 2008 and it is a gradual process. It is very easy to get discouraged ESPECIALLY, if one gets caught up on comparing their beginning to someone else’s middle or end! I have just discovered your cite and podcasts but since I have, I have been reading lots of the articles and getting lots of helpful tips. I have really been encouraged as I had gotten off track a bit lately with my eating and exercising due to stress and one of your podcasts, really put things in perspective for me. Keep up the good work and thank you!
Oil is disgusting..
Hi Matt
Loved this enlightening read on Oil.
How do you feel about nut oils such as Macadamia oils that are being produced now?
I am an avid fan of Olive Oil but do know that it poses a problem, especially if looking to lose weight – if you are going to cook something or roast veggies – which oil or alternative do you recommend?
My ultra-running husband, our kids and I all went vegan “cold turkey” several years ago, after he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. Not long after, he decided to make the additional switch to no oil vegan, mostly for heart health reasons. Yes, it took some getting used to, but we’ve been doing it for years now and it IS possible to enjoy the taste of foods with no oil. It’s even possible to cook foods in water and/or sauces, rather than oil. The proof that it’s worth the effort? My husband just passed the 5-years-cancer-free mark AND his cardiologist has difficulty believing how great his cholesterol levels are. It’s all a matter of priorities. Thanks for spreading the word, Matt!!
Hi Matt, my husband is starting the Ornish program after heart problems at age 48, trim and athletic eating tons of “healthy” fats in fish, oils, nuts, avocados, etc. Your recipes all look great but seem to be from before you went oil free–are there any that have been adapted? I’m really struggling with how to cook this way. Thanks!
I know this is a year old, but i typed in whether there was anything wrong with organic unrefined coconut oil. Now im completely confused because of the many different views on it. ?
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coconut oil, or any oil, has high fat content. high fat = high calories. fat is unhealthy for body after taking up more than 10% of your diet. doesn’t matter if its fat from a cow, a coconut, an olive, butter, its fat. and fat is not healthy when consumed at a higher amount than 10% of your diet. eating a 0% fat is preferred, but obviously not exactly practical. more than 10% is proven to be dangerous to your health.
mcdougall diet is best guide for a diet without oil!
been feeling “lighter” physically, and at lowest weight of my life at 123lbs, with a diet of complex unrefined carbs, veggies, fruit, no oil, no sugar
your table of cals per lb was very eye opening thank you.
Honestly, the stress of constantly worrying about something like consuming olive oil– which has been a part of the human diet for thousands of years– is worse for your health than consuming it in a normal fashion. Eat real food to the best of your ability and indulge in moderation, exercise, and surround yourself with good people, and you’re doing a hell of a job for your health.
In case you all need another reason to avoid oils in your diet, it has been proven that ALL oils go rancid VERY quickly after you open the bottle and expose it to air. This oxidized rancid oil plays havoc with your digestive system causing upset stomachs, indigestion, and loose watery stools and bowel urgency. In addition, the oxidation causes free radical damage to our cells. Whole foods sources of oils like nuts, seeds, and avocados do not cause these problems.
Thanks for the post! I know I’m late to the party here, but this is exactly what I needed to hear right now.
I’ve just recently, two months ago, also gave up using oil, with sugar as well. And I’ve lost 14 lbs. just doing this. I should also say I was already vegan while using a few processed foods. Now I’m strictly using whole foods while being plant based. What’s really been useful for me was ordering the Forks over Knives cookbook with over 300 recipes. Even the banana bread using apple sauce instead of oil is absolutely delicious. I’ve enjoyed this and the muffins now numerous times and I’ve still lost that unnecessary weight. My girlfriend says it looks like I’m heading to my natural Monkey weight. Everything feels better getting off the oils, my skin to my mental clarity. It’s been almost as amazing as when I finally eliminated dairy years ago. What a difference.
I’ve loved your site for a long-time. My daughter has been vegetarian for over 10 years (started at 9) and I always worried about her nutrition. Your site has helped my not only cook for her when she lived at home still, but also pass information along to her. I referenced it all the time. Now, after my wife got sick with fibromyalgia a couple of years ago, our path (and her healing) has led us to mostly a vegan lifestyle ourselves. Along the way, I’ve encountered a lot of things and a lot of snobbery actually from the vegan community at times if you’re not 100% vegan (we’re around 90% – only do meat once or twice a week now and no red meat). No dairy or cheese either. I love how you present why you do something and what works for you. Keep up the great work. As an ex meat and potato guy, I appreciate all your efforts and love the blog.
So what would I use instead of oil so my food doesn’t stick to a pan while cooking?
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water
Excellent post, and very timely for me as I grapple with giving up EVOO.
I must say that the logic and the evidence for eliminating processed oils (yes, cold pressing is still processing) from the diet makes sense. Practically, the actual doing can be quite difficult. However, I have been a vegan for years, and found that when I eliminated oils, I lost twelve pounds, and it was not muscle mass! I know because I am a 61 year old athlete and was lifting the same amount of weights. More importantly, I felt a lot better and had more energy. In response to the idea that it may be good for “people with advanced heart disease”, I would remind folks that Esselstyn points out that his diet can make you heart attack proof. Remember, the first warning sign of heart disease is often a heart attack, and sometimes fatal. I now continue to cook for the occasional family get together, and throw in my options for oil free vegan dishes which everyone treats as sides, I use them for my main course. Everyone in the family thinks I’m crazy, but I hear about the heart disease in mom, the strokes that killed my father, my brother’s and wife’s unrelenting battles with weight, my brother in law’s ulcers and pharmacy full of OTC meds, my two nephew’s obesity, my sister in laws obesity, etc., and they look at me, 5’10”, 170 lbs., 12% body fat, and they think I’m “lucky”.
We know that 10% of our health is determined by genetics, and 90% is determined by diet and lifestyle. We get to choose.
I wanted to add that I made a list of what I do eat and it seemed pretty robust:
All vegetables and greens (also fermented/pickled)
Most fruits
Grains (including whole grain breads, tortillas, noodles, etc.)
Seeds
Nuts
Condiments (a lot of varieties of hot sauces and soy sauces)
My doctor was very impressed with how I improved my blood test numbers and said to me, “Most people live to eat, you are eating to live.”
I am new to veganism, just two weeks. My challenge is that I have gout and there are even many vegan foods I cannot eat due to high purine content. So, my heart sank upon learning about the no oil thing too! However, I know in my heart of hearts this is the path I must take for my health . Even after a couple weeks my skin is improving and I move easier with more stamina. I am not the best cook, so learning new vegan oil free gout friendly recipes will be a huge challenge for me, but I am determined. Thank you all for your thoughts on this blog.
Gosh, I can’t explain how happy I am that I came across this post. I’m currently 20 but around the age of 17, I began experimenting with makeup (read: concealers and foundation). I used to have perfect skin prior to this experimentation period. I ate as bad as sailors curse but for some reason, that didn’t affect my skin. Once I started wearing makeup, the narrative shifted. My pores started getting clogged and by 18, my skin was a mess. My dermatologist put me on Accutane and gave me the best food advice ever. I stopped eating oil. Completely. And it was solely for skin reasons so you can imagine how excited I am to stumble upon these facts, though I did have some idea that oil is generally a menace. I’m on the journey towards veganism (baby steps!) but for now, it’s been a year since I’ve consumed anything made using oil. The ‘ugh it’ll taste disgusting’ issue was a big one for me but I’ve come to the realization that the difference is.. minuscule. I mostly bake my food and it tastes just as fabulous. Even when I ‘water-fry’ my food, it still tastes good. I’ve mastered some techniques over the months and I’m so glad I’ve finally found a healthy balance. I do eat chicken and meat every now and then (home-cooked and oil-free) but I’m gradually trying to go vegan, as mentioned above. Another thing that’s big for me – I don’t eat out. I like being in control of what I’m putting in my body and, frankly, I don’t trust eating out so all my meals are home-cooked. I don’t eat packaged or processed food either. These changes have made the biggest impact on my skin and my general well-being. Thank you for this post! Thank you for being real and not writing something fictional and outrageously far-fetched just to attract viewers. I appreciate your integrity and wholesomeness in this process! Definitely going to be following your blog. 🙂
This is exactly the help I needed today. I’ve had the same experience in my health journey in regards to cooking – it hasn’t been fun dropping more and more foods from my menu. And now, I’m going to cut out oil! Wish me luck!!!
Really enjoyed this post! I love how you explained the thoughts running through your mind before you went off of oil. Felt as though I could really relate. I would like to hear how you substituted it and maybe some of your favorite foods that you eat without oil now!
Interesting article. I have also gone oil free. I did it more for the what happens to any oil (olive, coconut, fish etc.) when exposed to heat or air. For me, the oxidation that occurs when sitting in a bottle or used for frying just plain grossed me out. Turns out one of the main byproducts is Acrylamide. Look it up and you will see that it is bad mojo for the body. If you really want olive oil you can get fresh olives and a press and squeeze on your salad. Once it hits the air it starts to oxidize but the short time it is out on the plate is not a big deal. I believe coconut is the slowest oil to oxidize.
So if you have a fish oil bottle sitting in the kitchen for Omega supplementation just think how much of the oil has oxidized and turned rancid. Now think how healthy it actually is on a daily basis.
Acrylamide can also be found in starchy foods cooked with certain amino acid combinations. These are less in amounts than a bottle of oxidised oil or fried foods.
Gggrrrrrrrr!!!!! I love oil!! I love iiiiiiiiiitttt!
maybe. I’ll. drizzle. less. when. cooking…..
GGGRRRRR!!!!!
Hope this isn’t a silly question, but what about cosmetics? I use a soap in the shower that has coconut oil as its base, and its a good soap and all. Its on and then washed off within seconds, so I’m not sure if the body is absorbing it. Any guesses?
Thank you for sharing this very real blog post! Will definitely consider going oil free now 🙂
Wow Thank you I eat oil only with pasta and pesto Hum!!! So So good
Not every day for sure. Love eating Vegan It is amazing what they come up with in my recipes books. It’s fun to cook very tasty and hearthy
Nice article! We are newly vegetarian and incorporating a lot of vegan dishes into our diet as well. I have been wondering about this oil free issue. I noticed I was cooking with A LOT of olive oil last summer and have backed off dramatically. This brought some good points up. We will be moving to a more oil “light” diet and maybe just maybe we can get to the oil free 🙂
Thank you! I especially need the reminder of ignoring the “all or nothing” message in my brain. Anything is better than nothing!
Truly appreciate your insight. -and your very amusing post! made me lol a few times!
“we have young kids and we’re pretty lame” haha!
Really like your no-pressure bottom line. -not a sales pitch- just great advice: “Don’t do nothing just because you can’t do everything”
You mentioned a podcast; I will for sure look it up!
My husband went oil free along with his vegan diet. After three months and a new blood test all levels came down except his triglycerides went through the roof. I’m concerned that not getting any oil will do damage to him. Seeing that this approach is about five years old, what kind of results and feedback are you getting ?
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He needs to cut down drastically on fruits, they affect triglyceride levels says Dr. Esselstyen.
I got ❤️ diease from the SAD been vegan for two years now started no oil very challenging to say the least looking for all the support I can get thanks for posting your experiences did not know there was a vegan cruise may have to do that
Thanks Matt!
My GF has been trying to get me onboard with this for a while… I think this nice clear concise respectful post has finally kicked me over the edge into the no-oil camp.
And yes, I too still have coffee and the (very) occasional beer!
Cheers from DownUnder
Anthony
Have been vegetarian for five years then went vegan for six. Read Dr. Esselstyn and am oil free for 4 weeks. Dropped 5 pounds in 5 days.. I work out but am concerned over heart health primarily. Cooking without oil and making non oil salad dressings… Only challenge is eating out or being on all day activities.. Would love non oil pack along vegan snacks.
Thanks for writing this article. I’ve been a vegetarian for 26 years but recently became vegan. Coconut oil, flax oil and olive oil have been a part of my diet for awhile, but something has been telling me that the oils might not be right, despite all the hype about how important they are. This past week I heard about the movie Forks Over Knives which says that oils aren’t healthy. It gave me the confidence to try eliminating them. It hasn’t been long but I am already noticing a difference in my digestion. So I appreciate this article as more confirmation that it is the right way to go, and I can definitely make up for the flavors in other ways. One question though: do you think 1/2 an avocado per day is too much?
All the best,
Sally
I love your message to not give up completely by thinking you have to do everything. I have a tendency to think all or nothing and you are right…it is a process and it’s okay for it to be step by step with what works for each person. I am just beginning this journey, and every new thing I learn helps me to make better decisions.
Thank you for your article. I am trying to find something that makes my salad tasty. cold pressed olive oil
Interestingly, I made my first oil free breakfast today !!
Just when I stumbled upon this blog while searching for well “oil free survivors”
Surprisingly I found it , not that different. Let’s see how long this lasts .
Thank you for this blog. I have been wondering about oil and if it’s really good for you or not. I noticed my blood sugar numbers are better when I do not use oil.
This is 2020 August, the 6th. I have always hold dear the concept that oil is bad for weight loss process. One of my fav actress passed away 3 days ago at the age of 59. She did not have an extra ounce of fat on her. Always munching big serves of salads with NO dressings NO oils, steam fish with no oil, blanched vegetables with no oil…….yet she passed with suspected heart attack. Everything in balance, life is short.
Having been a vegetarian for most of my life and vegan for the last five years, I suspect I paid a heavy price.
Multiple health issues suddenly arose out of nowhere, which shocked me into researching vegetarianism and veganism and associated nutrient deficiencies.
It turns out I was probably deficient in Iron, B12, Vitamin K2 and Taurine. So I purchased all of them as supplements.
Sad to say though, I’ve since begun eating fish and eggs again. I felt so unwell that it became a simple choice. If I didn’t eat the foods I needed I would just get sicker and sicker.
During my diet investigation I removed oils and felt better for it. I lost weight too. Paradoxically, my skin became drier and wrinkled – not so good. So, I began incorporating extra virgin olive oil into my diet. Subsequently, my skin became smoother and less wrinkled but my weight rocketed.
After reading this, and similar articles, I agree that oils should be avoided, but I don’t think it’s necessary to be puritanical about it.
If I bake vegetables I will use a tiny amount of olive mixed with water, tomato puree, vinegar and herbs and spices. The oil is spread with the other liquids and diluted.
Vegetables roasted without oil don’t taste quite as good – but they’re still OK. It’s a small compromise in taste, which is worth it for the health benefits.
Absolutely great to here that you can live a healthy oil free vegan lifestyle. I’ve been a vegan for three years but I recently started having symptoms of acid reflux and indigestion and it was recommended-by a dietician- that I avoid oil and foods with fats.
So thank you for this article, perfect motivation.
Your blog article,”Why I Finally Stopped Eating Oil”, was exactly the information needed to search for a vinaigrette-flavored salad dressing– but without added oil (soy, olive or other vegetable oils) and without tooth enamel-eroding acid (vinaigrette, fruit vinegars). Have you any suggestions?
Thank you for this post…I needed to hear this today! I’ve been (unsuccessfully) trying to kick my oil habit for the past year and your honesty has giving me the extra little nudge I need to get more serious about my plant based journey. So again…thank you!
I’m glad to hear you’re moving in this direction. Your book “No Meat Athlete” was one of the first books I read on my journey to a whole food plant based lifestyle, but I ultimately left it behind (though it’s still on my table) when I saw the first ingredient was oil in many of the recipes. I wasn’t confident about how to adapt the recipes without oil when I was just beginning. It’s coming up on a year now for me of whole food plant based no oil, and I keep your book around thinking I’ll give it another read now that I do feel confident leaving oil out of recipes. But I haven’t yet – there are so many other great chefs out there that I’ve found that are oil-free. I’d be interested in seeing what your next, oil-free cookbook is like. 🙂
I do appreciate this whole post!!! Thank you! So, do you eat out with your wife?? Date night?!! My husband isn’t vegan. We have 5 kids and love Friday night date night!!! Help?!
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Who says Date Night must mean a meal? I don’t know where you live. Do you have lake/ocean/mountains with views nearby? Is there a jazz club, dance spot, coffee house, sports to watch or play? A nice cup of tea with a vegan dessert like lava cake, almond based cakes are calorie dense, tasty and fine once in a while. Vegan ice cream, chia puddings are mostly less calorie dense and also delicious. Skip the foods made w coconut fat especially if watching your weight, have high cholesterol or heart issues.
I really enjoyed reading your post. I too used to think there were some benefits to oil, because that is the prevailing thought.
I gave up oil because I have IBS and for me, oil was a major disruptor.
Around month two without oil, I realized that my hormonal acne practically (not entirely) disappeared. I won a bet, and got my husband to go oil free. What sold him though wasn’t so much that he wasn’t bloated; it was that his runs were getting better, every time.
I totally can understand how you felt about giving up yet another food group, as I have been dairy free for 20 years, gluten free for 11 years, and just recently plant based.
Life has gone on. I feel so much better, and I too eat super strict at home so I can have an occasional indulgence when we order out and not feel as if I’m 7 months pregnant!
Keep up the good work!
Thank you…I am newly on an oil free diet because of chest pain…
It has helped dramatically! This is after being wheat, dairy, sweets, and
meat free for a long time….I’m so thankful to stumble on your sight!
Thanks for the post. I’m very beginner and just can’t seem to figure out how to make salad dressing without oil. I know, I know….there are lots of recipes out there. So far nothing completely appealing. But I’m not giving up. Thanks again
Great post, I became vegan 9 months ago and am ready to ditch oils, I discovered apple sauce in baking and I am ready to try stir frying in vegetable broth, thank you so much.
This was extremely a good read for someone like me. A few weeks ago, after watching a video about oil and seeing how many calories it has I decided to start giving up oil slowly. I started by cutting out oil in all my vegetables, there was no change I didn’t miss nothing. Ok that is exciting, I used water •turmeric •onions •tomatoes and pink salt. Then for my steamed veggies I just uses pink salt. Then I moved to my beans, same thing I added a spoon of peanutbutter to my mashed beans tasty. I then wondered why we always used oil. Kids loved it too. Long story short my Tummy feels so good I do intermittent fasting and I didn’t feel like this when my food was always oily. I will keep you posted but to be honest oil is not needed. I still use 1tsp when I have omelete which is twice a week. I love boiled 🥚
Hi Matt, great article !!!
I agree with what you wrote. I’m an Italian Vegan chef and giving up oil has been the hardest. Yes, we all need to take baby steps.
Thank you for posting this. Makes me feel better since I have been trying to eat WFPB for the past year or so but do not like to cook so am still eating SOME processed foods but I am doing SOMETHING which is indeed better than NOTHING. And other than the processed foods, I have pretty much given up oil (I sauté in vegetable broth) but am still a work in progress. Thanks again!
This blog hit the spot! I just started my no oil journey and you gave me encouragement to do something, even if I can’t do everything. Thank you for taking away the guilt for eating a few… maybe more than a few, Fritos while on a long car trip. Today is another day and I haven’t had any oil. I’m also working on eliminating sugars like honey and maple syrup. That’s challenging because to cook, you need to balance the flavors and you need a little sweet. Any suggestions to help hit that ‘sweet’ spot would be helpful. Thanks for your honesty and transparency, it helps to not feel alone on this journey.
I went through the same process that you did dropping oil out of my diet. I couldn’t possibly cook without oil, how is this even possible, but that was 15 years ago, and it is so easy, and I have not missed oil at all!! I don’t even use water or vegetable broth anymore to sauté!! It’s so possible people and easy!! Try it!!!
I do enjoy these posts because Matt speaks for me as a person transitioning toward the rigor and self discipline required of Joel Furhman ‘s Nutritarian approach. It helps to know you have partners in this transition. It’s not easy for folks late to the game. Thanks Matt.
About time.
Three big things you really missed about oil:
1) Oil is highly inflammatory. As an athlete you’ll feel this in your joints, as you get cleaner. I do after eating out and consuming more oil than I prefer; other athletes report the same. Seriously, look up the pro-inflammatory Omega 6: anti-inflammatory Omega 3 ratios. Many of the oils are off-the-chart out of balance, when the ratio should be 1:1
2) Free Radicals. Consuming oils initiates a cascade of free radical proliferation in the body, leading to cell damage on the molecular level, even DNA. Not all of this damage is always successfully repaired.
3) Fat Tooth. We have a Fat Tooth just like we have a Sweet Tooth due to the addicting hyper- stimulation of the dopamine system by concentrated refined sweeteners and concentrated refined fats; this follows the same addiction model as opiates keying into dopamine receptors. Freeing yourself from addiction will require gutting it out through a withdrawal phase while allowing your palate and your dopamine system to reset.
🙌 Excellent post, Matt. I know we’ve chatted about the oil topic on your podcast, and it definitely is an adjustment – but one that’s easier than we imagine.
For me, the question was “can I create a delicious cake or cookie recipe without oil?”
Answer: YES. Definitive yes!
Like you, we cook/bake oil-free at home, and don’t worry about an occasional meal at restaurants that use oil, or having vegan cheeses on hand for the kids to make school lunches.
Thanks for sharing this post. 👍 -Dreena
Thanks for this. I’m actually trying (and not being very successful) to become a “nutritarian” a la Dr. Fuhrman. And oil (& vegan butter) are very hard for me to give up. And I ALREADY don’t particularly enjoy cooking, but I want to. I want to cook and I want to enjoy cooking. I’ve got 80 lbs. to lose!!!! Ugh! So, I guess I’ll keep trying.
fat is fat. you’ll live without eating processed oils. as you noted, you can eat oils in their natural form, and be just fine! good on you!
So Matt I agree ( almost), except the latest science is actually saying a very little bit of olive oil is better than none. I heard that from Joel Khan. I have been so trying to be one hundred percent compliant but one tablespoon on a big salad is wonderful. I am working on eating for weight loss with Dr Mcdougle but I add half a cup if beans twice a day because of a podcast I heard with you. I really worry about bone health and eating beans and no meat….ugh would love a podcast on that. Love your honesty
Renée Wright
Crested Butte Colorado
Thank you for your path of adjustment to you change in eating lifestyle. When people ask me about oil, any oil, but especially olive oil, I respond that I prefer to eat the olives instead of the oil for the additional nutrients and fiber and I have a great non-stick pan. When I am eating out, I request balsamic vinegar for salads and to add no oil or salt to any foods. My taste buds have changed. I pick whole foods at restaurants and have minimal issues. 10 years ago I fully switched to WFPB and have been very pleased with the overall results. I, too, still have a small cup of coffee and occasional small amount of alcohol, but even these are becoming less and less. Changing habits is a journey and fun.
Thank you so much. This is great. My family has been gluten free for a decade, as my daughter is gluten intolerant.
After following Plantiful Kiki for a couple years, I finally saw Chef AJ and it clicked…I had to try it! I feel sooo much better in my gut and overall energy. I’ve lost 15 lb so far…and dropping steadily.
I hope to see you on the cruise!
Cheers to abundant health!
Laurie Hippel
what did/do you use “instead” of oil in cooking say like the sauted onions? trying to kick the oil habit but not sure of what to “use”.
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I use either vegetable or chicken broth (I am plant based 90% of my meals but not vegan). What I do for both flavor and heat transfer when I sauté garlic (being Italian garlic is a staple in my cooking!) is that I take some whole olives, any type, and I mince them up with my garlic and start that mixture off I my pan. It will actually cook quite well as the oils are released from the olives and I do this on low heat to minimize free radicals. Once it gets going I begin to add small amounts of broth which actually steams the garlic. After that I just add my tomatoes or whatever vegetables I am cooking and and it tastes delicious! Just do not go overboard on the olives–I have a rule that the amount of minced olives should not exceed the amount of garlic.
Awesome viewpoint, thank you very much!
Great post. Really appreciate your honesty and transparency. I’ve had a similar process of gradually cooking with less and less oil. Still can’t quite roast veggies the same without a tiny bit…..
This is interesting..I m not ready to give up oil. However I am aware I should lessen the amount I consume…I simply love it..
My fav .toasted sesame oil an unfiltered extra virgin olive oil
But yes I do have too much oil.
Thanks for reminding me..I do need to cut down
As always, your posts are honest, relatable, and informative. They sure give me food for thought. I’m a long-time vegan, whole-food junkie, food-is-medicine, and all that, and I’ve had an on- and off-again relationship with oil. My husband, who is also vegan, and runs, and does all the right things is still a cardiac patient…hard to swallow the reality that even on a plant-based diet you might still need medication, but as a result, we’ve cut WAY back on oil (and salt!). Thanks…and I really appreciated the breakdown of the calorie density of the foods here.
Wow man, I couldn’t have written this better myself! I am with you 100% on the “something is better than nothing”. I’ve been plant-based for almost 2yr and have gained so much health back and weight loss and I hardly ever use oil but I still do and it’s been a battle, like you said. Hearing how far you’ve come is so encouraging! I’ll be linking your article on my site this week! Blessings on your life and business and thank you for making the world a better place!
Hi!
I was also sceptical to the ” no oil thing”because i love oliveoil,salt and fat. But in the back of my mind it made sense but it took several years to actually start doing it..:)
Interesting. I enjoy oil in moderation. However, I do not drink coffee, beer, or wine. I don’t love coffee, so I choose to avoid it. I am a Muslim, so I do not drink anything alcoholic.