Seed oils are bad for you, according to Kennedy. The health secretary said vegetable oils, like canola and soybean, are poisoning Americans and driving the obesity epidemic. Kennedy points to obesity rates climbing as seed oils began to dominate the American diet as part of the evidence for his claim. Many researchers say seed oils may not be as good for you as olive oil, but the claims that they are harmful to health have been stretched too far. Check out what the science has to say:
➡️ To maximize oil extraction from seeds, manufacturers often use heat and chemicals. Critics are concerned about hexane, a hazardous solvent used in refining. However, the residues are at levels too low to be toxic.
➡️ A common argument against seed oils is that they promote inflammation because they contain higher levels of essential fatty acids known as omega-6s. However, randomized controlled trials have demonstrated that when people consume more seed oils, they don’t show increased levels of pro-inflammatory compounds in their tissues.
➡️ Seed oils are prevalent in ultra-processed foods, which make up a significant portion of the U.S. food supply. Rather than focusing on which oils to consume, the focal point should be a person’s overall diet, says Christopher Gardner, a nutrition scientist and professor of medicine at Stanford University. |