Hey Holistic Americans! For decades, we’ve been told to swap butter and animal fats for “heart-healthy” vegetable oils. But what if the oils in your pantry—canola, soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, and more—are actually fueling inflammation, weight gain, and chronic disease? Let’s break down the science behind seed oils, the omega-6 problem, and how to make smarter fat choices for vibrant health. What Are Seed Oils? Seed oils (often called “vegetable oils”) are extracted from seeds like soybeans, corn, canola (rapeseed), sunflower, safflower, cottonseed, and grapeseed. Unlike olive oil or coconut oil, which can be pressed naturally, seed oils require heavy industrial processing; high heat, chemical solvents (like hexane), bleaching, and deodorizing. Common seed oils: * Soybean oil * Corn oil * Canola oil * Sunflower oil * Safflower oil * Cottonseed oil * Grapeseed oil * Rice bran oil The Omega-6 Problem Seed oils are extremely high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially linoleic acid. While omega-6s are essential in small amounts, the modern diet is overloaded, often 10-20 times more than our ancestors ate. Why is this a problem? Omega-6s are pro-inflammatory when not balanced by omega-3s (found in fish, flax, chia, and pastured animal fats). Chronic inflammation is linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, autoimmune disorders, and even cancer. Excess omega-6s can disrupt cell membranes, hormone balance, and immune function. The ideal ratio: Traditional diets had an omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of about 1:1 to 4:1. Today, most Americans are at 15:1 or higher, driven by seed oil consumption. How Seed Oils Harm Your Health 1. Promote Inflammation Excess omega-6s are converted into arachidonic acid, which fuels the body’s inflammatory pathways. Chronic inflammation is the root of most modern diseases. 2. Easily Oxidized Seed oils are unstable and oxidize easily when exposed to heat, light, or air. Oxidized fats create free radicals, damaging cells and DNA.

The "Complex Carb" That Spikes Blood Sugar Worse Than Table Sugar What sounds like a harmless starch or complex carbohydrate in your protein powder is actually an ultra-processed filler with a glycemic index higher than pure sugar. "Maltodextrin" isn't a whole food, it's an industrially manufactured powder created through extreme chemical and enzymatic processing that strips away all fiber and nutrients, leaving behind a blood-sugar-spiking additive that feeds harmful gut bacteria and promotes metabolic dysfunction. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂'𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 "𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗯" Maltodextrin (listed as maltodextrin, corn maltodextrin, or wheat maltodextrin) is lurking in products throughout your kitchen: • Protein powders and meal replacement shakes • Sports drinks and "electrolyte" mixes • Salad dressings and sauces • Spice blends and seasoning packets • Sugar-free and "diet" foods • Instant puddings and dessert mixes • Artificial sweetener packets (Splenda, Equal) • Baked goods and snack bars • Canned soups and gravies • Baby formula and infant foods • Vitamins and supplements • "Healthy" snack foods and chips 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 "𝗠𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻" 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗜𝘀 Maltodextrin is an ultra-processed white powder created through extreme industrial processing: The manufacturing process: • Starts with GMO corn, rice, potato, or wheat starch • Acid hydrolysis - treating starch with hydrochloric or sulfuric acid • Enzymatic breakdown - using industrial enzymes to fragment starch chains • High-temperature processing - extreme heat to break molecular bonds • Chemical purification - removing residues and impurities • Spray drying - creating fine white powder What's left is a highly refined carbohydrate with: • Glycemic index of 105-130 (higher than table sugar at 65) • Zero fiber - all removed during processing • Zero nutrients - vitamins and minerals stripped away • Rapid absorption - hits bloodstream faster than glucose It's essentially pre-digested starch that requires no breakdown, spiking blood sugar instantly.

The truth is, flipping the calendar doesn’t flip your life — your habits do. If you carry the same routines, reactions, and excuses into a new year, it simply becomes another year, not a new one. Change begins with awareness, choice, and courage — the courage to break cycles, to try again, and to build systems that support your best self. Take a holistic approach this year. Nourish your body with movement and good food, feed your mind with positivity, and guard your peace fiercely. The transformation you seek is waiting on the other side of consistent, intentional action. This is your moment to realign — to not just live the year, We are doing it at a good pace and one day at a time. We Cannot do it all in one day ! We have awesome resources here ! Have a great week !

Before we dig into this week’s Mental Wellness Monday lesson from Dr. Pam, there are two important things we want to make sure you know. 🌿 JOIN DR. PAM’S FREE SKOOL GROUP — WHILE IT’S STILL FREE If Mental Wellness Mondays resonate with you, this is where the deeper work continues. 🧠 Shrink Rap with Dr. Pam is her dedicated Skool community for mental wellness, trauma-informed healing, identity work, and real-life application. Inside the group you’ll find: • Deeper teachings and reflections • Ongoing discussion and support • Access to live sessions and replays • A grounded, safe space for healing and growth 👉 Join Dr. Pam’s Skool group here: https://www.skool.com/shrinkrap/about ✨ The group is currently FREE, and those who join now are being grandfathered in before any future changes. 📅 LIVE “ASK A SHRINK” — JANUARY 28 @ 6PM EST ⚠️ IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE UPDATE This live Q&A is open to all members, but attendance now requires joining the Holistic American Health Academy (HAHA). 👉 The good news • HAHA is FREE to join • No Zoom • No registration forms • Just join and show up ✅ How to Attend 1️⃣ Join the Holistic American Health Academy (FREE): https://www.skool.com/holisticamerican/about 2️⃣ Once inside, go to the Calendar 3️⃣ Show up live and click the meeting link 👉 Join the live meeting here: https://www.skool.com/live/6XpMTXQptfR 📺 About Replays 1. Replays are alwyas hosted inside Dr. Pam's FREE Skool group Shrink Rap/ 2. Replays are also posted inside HAHA → Classroom → Q&A Replays, which houses our full holistic video library dating back to February 2024. ⚠️ Replays are available to HAHA Premium members only. If you are not premium, you must attend live to receive the information. ⏳ Do not wait. Join HAHA now so you’re ready when the session goes live. ------------------------------------ 🌎 This Week’s Mental Wellness Monday from Dr. Pam

This hardy perennial thrives in lawns, meadows, roadsides, and disturbed areas, spreading by underground runners to form persistent patches. Its feathery, fern-like leaves are so finely divided they look almost lacy, and flat-topped clusters of tiny white or pink flowers bloom from late spring through fall. The entire plant has a distinctive aromatic, slightly bitter scent when crushed. Most people mow right over it or pull it as an unwanted lawn invader, yet this ancient healing herb has been carried into battle by soldiers for thousands of years, earning it the nickname "soldier's woundwort" for its legendary ability to stop bleeding. ✨ **Traditional Uses:** • Fresh leaves have been crushed and applied directly to cuts, scrapes, and wounds to stop bleeding and promote rapid healing. • Folk healers have brewed it into teas to break fevers by promoting sweating at the first sign of colds and flu. • Traditionally used as a bitter digestive tonic to stimulate appetite and ease stomach complaints. • Applied as a wash or compress for minor burns, rashes, and inflammatory skin conditions. ✨ **DIY Folk Remedy Recipe:** First Aid Poultice Gather fresh leaves and flowers. Chew or crush thoroughly to release the juices (clean hands or mortar and pestle work too). Apply the mashed plant material directly to minor cuts or scrapes. Hold in place for several minutes until bleeding slows. This simple field remedy has been trusted by warriors and herbalists for millennia. 👇 **Drop your guess in the comments, who knows this "weed"?**