Seed Oils: Myth vs. Fact

Seed oils are under fire from thousands of social media health and wellness influencers who claim that they are damaging to your health. Dubbed the “hateful eight” on internet forums, canola, corn, cottonseed, soybean, sunflower, safflower, grapeseed, and rice bran oils, have been called “toxic” and “unhealthy.” 

Customers’ anxieties are raised by the rhetoric, but do these claims have merit? As the fourth generation of a family business that has purchased, packaged, and sold these oils for more than 100 years, I wanted to take a closer look and separate myth from fact about seed oils. 

What are Seed Oils?

Plant-based oils, called seed oils, are extracted from seeds such as safflower, sunflower, canola, and soybean. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, which are vital nutrients, are among the unsaturated fats that comprise most of these oils. Seed oils can either be refined or cold-pressed, depending on how they are extracted.
Extra virgin olive oil and other cold-pressed oils preserve key plant ingredients such as phytosterols and vitamins, but they can break down at high temperatures. Refined oils undergo several processes to raise their smoke point, improve their shelf stability, and neutralize flavor, making them suitable for high-heat cooking.

Facts vs. Myths Regarding Seed Oils

Myth 1: Inflammation Is Caused by Seed Oils

Claim: Chronic illnesses and inflammation are caused by omega-6 fatty acids found in seed oils.

Fact: The function of omega-6 fatty acids in the body is oversimplified by this assertion. Omega-6s can create both anti-inflammatory and inflammatory chemicals. Studies, such as those conducted by Dr. Christopher Gardner of Stanford University, have demonstrated that diets rich in omega-6 fatty acids do not increase inflammatory markers. Rather, people who have higher blood levels of omega-6s are frequently at a decreased risk of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. He was quoted in a recent article by The American Heart Association saying, “It’s so odd that the internet has gone wild demonizing these things, they are not to be feared.”

Myth 2: Seed Oils Decompose into Dangerous Substances

Claim: When seed oils are refined and cooked, toxic chemicals are created that harm cells.

Fact: Refined seed oils are made especially to resist high temperatures. The naturally occurring Vitamin E in these oils serves as an antioxidant, preventing deterioration, and the refining process eliminates contaminants that may cause rancidity or splattering. Oils should be kept in a cool, dark location to preserve quality.