The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Are Seed Oils Healthy? Toxic Facts and Falsehoods | Dr. Roxie Becker

Jan 21, 2025

Dr. Roxie Becker, an expert in seed oils and nutrition, joins Chuck Carroll to debunk myths surrounding these controversial cooking oils. They discuss the science behind linoleic acid and its inflammatory properties, revealing the truth behind common misconceptions. Dr. Becker emphasizes moderation in oil consumption to avoid obesity while reflecting on their personal vegan journeys and healthy eating practices. The conversation promotes evidence-based nutrition over sensationalist claims, advocating for balanced dietary choices.

45:42

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Episode guests

Roxie Becker

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Quick takeaways

The inflammatory claims about seed oils are largely overstated and not supported by scientific evidence, with some studies suggesting beneficial effects on health.

While seed oils should not dominate a diet due to their high caloric content, moderate consumption alongside whole foods can be healthful.

Deep dives

Understanding Seed Oils

Seed oils are derived from the seeds of plants, such as sunflower and canola, and differ from oils like avocado and coconut, which come from the flesh of the fruit. Many misconceptions exist regarding the health implications of seed oils, as they are often labeled as ultra-processed and therefore deemed unhealthy. However, recent discussions indicate that the science around seed oils is not as straightforward as it seems; the inflammatory nature attributed to these oils may not be accurate. Clarifying these distinctions is vital for better understanding the nutritional value of various oils.

Intro

3min

Debunking the Seed Oil Myths

23min

Unpacking the Minnesota Coronary Experiment

7min

Navigating Seed Oils and Health

5min

Personal Journeys: Transitioning to Veganism

2min

Understanding Seed Oils and the Importance of Scientific Evidence

6min

Are seed oils healthy?

The truth lies in the research. Dr. Roxie Becker does a deep dive into the data surrounding the controversial cooking oils. In a conversation with "The Weight Loss Champion" Chuck Carroll, Dr. Becker highlights misinformation surrounding seed oils, particularly the claim that they are inflammatory. Critics often reference a systematic review showing no significant difference in arachidonic acid levels in the body, regardless of linoleic acid intake.

However, Dr. Becker also emphasizes that seed oils should not be the primary focus of a diet due to their high fat and caloric values, both of which contribute to obesity.

The interview concludes with personal anecdotes about their vegan diets and health outcomes, underscoring the importance of evidence-based nutrition.

In This Interview

- Seed oils vs non-seed oils

- Inflammatory seed oil science

- Least healthy seeds oils

- Does heating the oil make it worse?

- Fat from seed oils vs. fat from animal sources

- Fat sources, cholesterol and heart disease

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https://www.pcrm.org/events/bon-voyage-party-2025

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Studies Referenced

Increasing linoleic acid in the diet doesn't change the amount of linoleic acid in the body

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3132704/#sec9

Increasing linoleic acid did not increase markers of inflammation

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28752873/

Cooking with peanut oil or corn oil did not increase markers of inflammation

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32756661/

Flaxseed oil did not increase markers of inflammation

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26959052/

Canola oil did not increase markers of inflammation

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33127255/

Sunflower oil may lower markers of inflammation compared with butter

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21430255/

Sesame seed oil may lower markers of inflammation compared to a control oil

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3683238/

Soybean oil did not increase markers of inflammation

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22031659/

Safflower oil did not increase markers of inflammation

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12818406/

Minnesota Coronary Experiment

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4836695/

American Heart Association core 4 trials on unsaturated fat vs saturated fat

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/cir.0000000000000510

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https://www.pcrm.org/athlete

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The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Are Seed Oils Healthy? Toxic Facts and Falsehoods | Dr. Roxie Becker

Episode guests