Seed oils - are they actually bad?
Twitter/X is convinced that seed oils (canola, soybean, sunflower) are literally poison. Meanwhile actual nutritionists seem to think they're fine. Who's right?
I've been cooking with olive oil and butter only for 3 months now "just in case." Wondering if I'm being paranoid.
The anti-seed-oil movement is largely driven by social media personalities, not peer-reviewed science. The actual evidence:
- Moderate consumption of seed oils is not harmful according to major health organizations
- They're high in omega-6, which in excess can promote inflammation — but the dose makes the poison
- The real issue is ultra-processed foods that happen to contain seed oils, not the oils themselves
Olive oil and butter are great but you don't need to fear canola oil.
The seed oil discourse is the modern equivalent of the anti-saturated-fat hysteria of the 90s. Take it from someone who debunks nutrition myths for fun: the dose makes the poison. A bit of canola oil in your cooking is not going to kill you.
The issue isn't seed oils per se — it's that they're in EVERYTHING processed. If you eat a whole food diet you naturally reduce seed oil consumption without needing to panic about it.
The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio matters more than absolute omega-6 intake. If you eat plenty of omega-3 (fish, flax, walnuts), moderate seed oil consumption is fine.
I avoid them personally. Not because I think they're poison, but because I prefer the taste and cooking properties of olive oil, avocado oil, and butter. It's a preference, not a health emergency.
Thanks everyone. I think I was being paranoid. Will continue using mostly olive oil because I genuinely prefer it, but I'll stop worrying about the canola oil in my wife's cooking lol.
The fact that seed oil fear correlates exactly with social media algorithm trends tells you everything. Follow the science, not the influencers.
I deep fry in beef tallow. Is that healthier? Probably not. But it tastes amazing and I'm at a healthy weight. Life is short.