Feel the Burn: Seed Oils, Memes & Oxidative Stress | Brian Kerley | 233

Jun 11, 2025

Brian Kerley, a family medicine-trained hospitalist known as the 'Seed Oil Disrespecter', dives into the health impacts of seed oils. He reveals their role in chronic diseases like heart disease, linking them to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The discussion touches on the evolutionary mismatch between modern diets and traditional food patterns. Kerley also highlights challenges in studying long-term effects and explores the cultural implications of dietary choices, all while advocating for better patient education on nutrition.

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INSIGHT

Long Omega-6 Washout Needed

Our baseline omega-6 tissue levels are evolutionarily novel and very high due to seed oil consumption.
Randomized controlled trials require washout periods of around 8 years to detect seed oil effects properly.

ANECDOTE

Personal Seed Oil Quit Benefits

Brian Kerley personally quit seed oils and experienced a significant reduction in ocular migraines and pain.
He rarely eats fried food now except for rare occasions and notices lasting health benefits.

INSIGHT

PUFAs & Lipid Peroxidation Damage

Polyunsaturated fatty acids in cell membranes react with reactive oxygen species causing lipid peroxidation.
This process produces toxic molecules like 4-HNE and acrolein that damage cells and contribute to disease.

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Are seed oils really driving chronic disease (and sunburns), or is it hype?

Episode Summary: Dr. Brian Kerley talks about the health impacts of seed oils, their high omega-6 fatty acid content, and their role in chronic diseases through mechanisms like lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. They explore how these industrially processed oils may contribute to conditions like heart disease and obesity, discuss the challenges of studying their long-term effects, and highlight the cultural and political dimensions of dietary trends.

About the guest: Brian Kerley, MD is a family medicine-trained hospitalist physician who gained online prominence as the "Seed Oil Disrespecter" through his meme account, raising awareness about the health risks of seed oils.

Discussion Points:

Seed Oils & Health Risks: Seed oils (e.g., soybean, corn, etc.) are high in omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), linked to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation, producing toxic compounds like 4-HNE and acrolein that damage cells.
Evolutionary Perspective: The high omega-6 levels in modern diets are evolutionarily novel, deviating from natural omega-6 to omega-3 ratios found in traditional diets, potentially exacerbating health issues across diverse populations.
Challenges with RCTs: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) often fail to capture the long-term effects of seed oils due to the need for extended washout periods (up to 8 years) and the pervasive presence of omega-6 in modern food environments.
Cultural & Political Coding: Dietary trends like seed oil avoidance have become politically charged, with Kerley noting the polarization between institutional health narratives and alternative health communities, complicating public health discussions.
Personal Impact: Dr. Kerley’s focus on seed oils stems from personal experiences, including managing his daughter’s mitochondrial disorder, highlighting the personal stakes in dietary choices.

Related episode:

M&M 192: Seed Oils, Chronic Disease, Diet & Religious Cults, Mainstream Medicine vs. Independent Research | Tucker Goodrich

*Not medical advice.

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