Are Seed Oils Really Toxic?

Getty Images canola oil toxic If you’ve spent any time on wellness TikTok recently, you may have noticed that there’s an abundance of posts claiming that canola oil and other seed oils are unhealthy and should be avoided. “Seed oils are made by grinding, pressing and heating plant seeds to high temperatures so that the fatty acids they contain oxidize and their oils can be extracted,” explained Maddie Pasquariello, a registered dietitian. Seed oils contain varying amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are both polyunsaturated fats considered healthy. “There is some concern about the ratio in refined seed oils of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids, with omega-6 fatty acids thought to be pro-inflammatory, but the significance of this is unclear,” said Dr. Linda Shiue, the director of culinary and lifestyle medicine at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. “So, I’d advise folks to try adding these alternative food sources of fat first, if adding additional omega-6 fatty acids is recommended to them.” Are there nutritional benefits to seed oils?