Live Well Be Well with Sarah Ann Macklin | Health, Lifestyle, Nutrition The Seed Oil Debate: Evidence, Context, and Public Messaging | Dr. Andy Galpin | Be Well Moments
Dec 12, 2025
Dr. Andy Galpin, a human performance scientist and nutrition expert, critically examines the contentious seed oil debate. He highlights the weak evidence against seed oils and discusses the importance of context, such as rancidity and overconsumption. Galpin challenges the simplistic narratives that equate seed oils with poor health while advocating for informed consumer choices. He emphasizes the need for nuanced public health messaging, urging that adults deserve truthful, scientifically grounded information rather than oversimplified slogans.
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Weak Evidence, Strong Nuance
- The evidence that seed oils are broadly harmful is weak and context-dependent.
- Concerns arise mainly under specific conditions like rancidity, overconsumption, and alcohol use.
Context, Not Just The Oil
- Critics often conflate seed oils themselves with the unhealthy contexts they appear in.
- That framing is disingenuous and distracts from the real problem of overall poor diet and behaviours.
Advocacy Needs Honesty
- Advocacy can influence food industry practices without falsely demonising ingredients.
- Highlighting consumer power is valid but should not rely on dishonest claims about harm.