Are seed oils bad for you?

SEED OILS - what’s ALL THE CONTROVERSY ABOUT?

There has been a lot of controversy in the press recently over seed oils and their impact on our health. We wanted to address some of the common concerns which have been raised about rapeseed oil in particular, and explain where the controversy has come from and why you don’t need to worry!

IS RAPESEED OIL HIGHLY PROCESSED?

In some cases, once rapeseed has been cold pressed, the remaining seed can be washed in a solvent such as hexane, then filtered and cleaned to make it completely safe for human consumption. This process, while safe, can remove some of the fatty acids and vitamin E that makes rapeseed oil so good for you.

To avoid this issue, we recommend that you choose a cold-pressed rapeseed oil (like littleseed) where the seed is simply pressed, passed through a filter and then bottled! Nothing is added to this natural oil, so if highly processed food is something you’re concerned about, choose a cold-pressed rapeseed oil.

DOES RAPESEED OIL contain LOTS OF SATURATED FAT?

Saturated fats are lipid molecules without a double bond, whereas polyunsaturated fats are lipid molecules containing two or more double bonds. Your body needs some of these saturated fats to build strong cell membranes, however too much of these can be detrimental to your health. While both types of fat are present in rapeseed oil, most of the fat content is polyunsaturated fats. Studies show that the substitution of saturated to polyunsaturated fats within a population can lead to a decline in heart disease.

To put it simply, cold-pressed rapeseed oil contains a lower level of saturated fat than other cooking oils and more of the beneficial fats than other oils, meaning it’s a better choice for you and your heart.

DOES RAPESEED OIL CAUSE INFLAMMATION?

The main concern some people have raised around seed oils and other vegetable oils is the high levels of omega-6 fatty acids found in the oil. While omega-6 is certainly present, cold pressed rapeseed oil contains a 1:2 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6, which experts have claimed is the ideal ratio for our health.

It is a well-known fact that omega-3 is good for you, however there are unsubstantiated claims that omega-6 can cause an increase in inflammation markers. Some sources claim that seed oils cause inflammation within the body due to an excess of omega-6, meaning that the body releases cytokines to trap foreign agents and start healing tissue. A 2022 study shows that omega-6 fatty acids actually have a beneficial effect on cancers, diabetes, kidney disease and muscle function, and that high consumption of these does not cause inflammation as is suggested. (Kim, Kang and Go, 2022) You can also reduce the risk of inflammation in your body by exercising frequently, eating a healthy balanced diet, and limiting your alcohol intake. 

Qualified nutritionist, Nutri Coach Mumma further supports this in a guest blog she previously wrote for us. She says:

“There is a lot of miscommunication about the actual scientific studies on Omega 6.

The most common Omega 6 is linolenic acid (there's other types), which can be converted into another fatty acid called arachidonic acid, which is harmful for the body but the body converts very little linolenic acid into arachidonic acid, even when linolenic acid is abundant in the diet. Studies have actually shown that eating more Omega 6 didn't increase inflammation in the body, it actually reduced inflammation markers or left the markers unchanged!

There are loads of studies that show that the rate of heart disease decreases as omega 6 consumption increases e.g. a meta-analysis of six randomised trials found that replacing saturated fat with omega-6 fats reduced the risk of heart attacks and other coronary events by 24%”.

How can I ensure a balanced and healthy diet?

We’re huge fans of the old adage “everything in moderation” and that is absolutely the approach we recommend taking for a balanced and healthy diet.

Oils are fats and there’s no hiding from that but “good” or “useful” fats have a really important role to play in giving our bodies the fuel that they need.

By choosing a cold pressed or Extra Virgin rapeseed oil like littleseed you can ensure that it has not been highly processed and still maintains all its natural goodness.

Cooking from scratch using a wide variety of fresh produce is a great way to ensure you know exactly what you’re putting into your body and also being able to ensure you have a balanced diet with all the nutrients your body needs.