The internet is panicking that seed oils cause inflammation and disease. Yet, they're everywhere. Canola, sunflower, safflower oil - these are all seed oils.

So why is there so much fear? And are any of the accusations true?

In this episode, we unpack the science of seed oils. With Professor Sarah Berry's expertise, we simplify what seed oils are, what the latest science says and why countless videos online say they’re toxic. 

Sarah Berry is a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at King's College London and Chief Scientist at ZOE. She reveals the surprising truth about seed oils and tips to navigate a world full of them.

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Timecodes

00:00 Seed oils are in everything

02:07 Quickfire questions

03:29 What is seed oil?

05:31 Are seed oils full of chemicals?

10:41 Why are seed oils everywhere?

12:46 3 types of fat you should understand

19:32 Are seed oils toxic?

24:03 Is omega 6 dangerous?

26:57 These fats reduce disease risk

29:24 Key seed oil science 

37:15 Are seed oils unnatural?

44:57 Seed oil vs palm oil

49:50 Is it safe to cook with seed oil?

Books by our ZOE Scientists

• Every Body Should Know This by Dr Federica Amati
• Food For Life by Prof. Tim Spector 
• Fibre Fuelled by Dr Will Bulsiewicz

Free resources from ZOE:

• Live Healthier: Top 10 Tips From ZOE Science & Nutrition 
• Gut Guide - for a healthier microbiome in weeks
• MenoScale Calculator - learn about your symptoms

Mentioned in today's episode:

• Increasing dietary linoleic acid does not increase tissue arachidonic acid content in adults consuming Western-type diets: a systematic review (2011) published in Nutrition & Metabolism
• Effect of Dietary Linoleic Acid on Markers of Inflammation in Healthy Persons: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials (2012) published in Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• Too much linoleic acid promotes inflammation—doesn’t it? (2008), published in Prostaglandins, Leukotrienes and Essential Fatty Acids
• Dietary linoleic acid and human health: Focus on cardiovascular and cardiometabolic effects (2020), published in Atherosclerosis
• The omega-6/omega-3 ratio and cardiovascular disease risk: uses and abuses (2006), published in Current Atherosclerosis Reports

Have feedback or a topic you'd like us to cover? Let us know here.

Episode transcripts are available here.