Is it even Indian food if it’s not swimming in vegetable oil? All the seemingly healthy cooking oils in the market only make it easier for you to enjoy your favourite pakodas guilt-free. But do you know what that ‘healthy’ label is hiding from you? Weill Cornell Medicine has recently revealed the harmful impact of linoleic acid in vegetable oils. Do you know what linoleic acid means and what it can lead to?

How is cooking oil harmful to women?

Linoleic acid is an important omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) which makes skin and nerves healthy. It is found in seeds, nuts and mostly in plant-based oils, including soybean and safflower oils. However, a recent study by Science reveals that its overuse in cooking oils is increasing the risk of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). According to the report, the acid is the most unsaturated fat, especially in Western-style diets. This further promotes the growth of tumour cells in a woman’s body, leading to a more serious type of breast cancer. How is TNBC different from other types of breast cancer?

About triple-negative breast cancer

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, TNBC is worse than other types of breast cancer. Usually, breast cancer can be treated through chemotherapy due to estrogen receptors (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR). This makes it comparatively easy for the body to respond to the targeted therapies. However, in the case of triple-negative breast cancer, women’s bodies lack ER and PR, limiting the treatment options. Additionally, TNBC tends to be more aggressive, leading to a faster growth rate of tumour cells. This, in turn, increases the risk of metastasis – the spread of cancer cells from the origin to other body parts. It also increases the possibility of recurrence.

Breast cancer has become the most common cancer found in women, per the World Health Organisation. And now, excess intake of cooking oil is increasingly being linked to breast cancer. This calls for an urgent need to limit the use of vegetable oil and other foods containing high levels of linoleic acid. Additionally, you must adopt a healthy lifestyle and indulge in regular physical activity. Limiting smoking and alcohol consumption is equally important to avoid the risk of developing breast cancer.

Featured Image Source

Related: Tahira Kashyap Diagnosed With Breast Cancer Again: Here’s What Every Woman Should Know About It