ZOE Science & Nutrition Recap: The truth about seed oils | Prof. Sarah Berry
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Sep 9, 2025 
In this discussion, Professor Sarah Berry, a respected nutritional scientist at King's College London, tackles the frenzy around seed oils. She clarifies misconceptions about commonly used oils and their production methods. Berry debunks myths linking seed oils to obesity and diabetes, emphasizing the importance of considering broader lifestyle factors. She also highlights the benefits of omega-6 fatty acids, pointing to studies that suggest a reduced heart disease risk, urging listeners to rethink their fears about these oils.
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What Seed Oils Actually Are
- Seed oils are simply oils extracted from seeds like sunflower, safflower, soybean and rapeseed (canola).
- They represent the majority of vegetable oils consumed in many countries and come from common seeds.
How Seed Oils Are Made
- Seed oils can be cold-pressed or extracted using heat and solvents like hexane to maximize yield.
- Refining steps like bleaching and deodorization remove minor components but leave a stable, clean oil.
Refinement Removes Some Nutrients, Not Toxins
- Refinement can remove some vitamin E, phytosterols and polyphenols but the overall loss is minor.
- Randomized trials comparing cold-pressed and refined oils show little difference in inflammation or oxidative stress outcomes so far.