Last time most of us heard about olestra, it was because people who ate the ingredient in low-fat chips and other snack foods were getting the, um, runs. Now, the fat substitute is in the spotlight again—but this time for doing something good.
Eating olestra can help rid the body of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a class of chemicals known to negatively affect the endocrine, reproductive, and nervous systems. In a small University of Cincinnati study, PCBs left participants’ bodies faster in those who snacked on Pringles that contained olestra compared to those who snacked on Pringles containing vegetable oils.
How does it work? PCBs are crazy for fat, and when you consume olestra or other fats, the chemicals grab onto it with enthusiasm. But “unlike other fats, olestra is not digested, and therefore isn’t absorbed into the body after it’s consumed. Rather, it’s excreted into the stool,” says study author Ronald Jandacek, PhD. In other words, when olestra makes its (unpleasant) exit, the PCBs are happy to go with it.
Still, Pringles clearly aren’t a superfood, and olestra’s ability to help sweep away lipid-loving substances means it can also deplete the body’s stores of fat-soluble nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K, says registered dietician Michelle Dudash. Plus, there are healthier ways to avoid PCBs, which are found mostly in large, fatty fish (the chemicals were banned in 1979, but are still found in the water). Your best bets: Avoid seafood that’s high in PCBs like farm-raised salmon (find a list of safe seafood options at seafoodwatch.org); skip fish skin, as it typically has higher concentrations of PCBs; and bake or grill your fish, which helps the fat drip away, reducing your PCB exposure.
More from Prevention: The Cleanest Packaged Snack Foods You Can Buy
