Current:Home > reviewsWhat are seed oils? What you need to know about the food group deemed the 'hateful eight' -TradeWisdom
What are seed oils? What you need to know about the food group deemed the 'hateful eight'
View
Date:2025-04-14 09:03:01
If you've heard about seed oils, it was probably within the context that they aren't the best for you.
Last year, several restaurant chains announced they would move away from using seed oils. Sweetgreen switched to only using olive oil. Shake Shack ditched soybean oil. Texas-based Hopdoddy became the first burger chain to go seed oil-free. You can now find specific condiments and sauces that are without seed oils.
Does that mean you need to be afraid of consuming seed oils? Here's what nutrition experts want you to know.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils include canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, soybean, sunflower, rice bran and peanut oils. This group is sometimes referred to as the "hateful eight" and blamed for a whole host of health problems.
But nutrition experts have pushed back on these claims, arguing that there isn't enough research to put the blame on seed oils. They're mostly used to cook fried foods higher in other ingredients that can have negative health impacts if consumed at high quantities over time.
"Seed oils are typically high in omega-6, which on their own are not inherently inflammatory," registered dietitian Caroline Thomason tells USA TODAY. But, she adds, "most Americans already consume enough omega-6s and do not get enough of omega-3 fatty acids. This imbalance of too many omega-6 fatty acids and too few omega-3 fatty acids is the bigger problem at play here."
When it comes to consuming seed oils, Thomason recommends high-oleic sunflower oil for a higher-quality option. "And make sure that you also get plenty of omega-3 in your diet by choosing fatty fish like salmon — Alaskan salmon has the highest omega-3 content — walnuts or chia seeds," she adds.
Is olive oil a seed oil?
Some vegetable-based oils are also considered part of the seed oil family if they're made from the seed of a vegetable (see: sunflower, grapeseed and canola oils). But olive oil is not considered a seed oil.
Is whole wheat bread actually healthier?Here’s what experts say.
What is the healthiest oil?
If Thomason had to pick, she'd say olive oil is the best, based on the fact that it has "the most positive research and the least negative research behind it for our health." Myriad studies have found olive oil to help prevent cardiovascular diseases and decrease inflammation.
But overall, "healthy" is a loaded word in nutrition. There isn't a one-size-fits-all answer for a single best food, because everyone is different, nutrition experts stress.
"If you think of your nutrition choices as a bank account, where you make daily deposits and withdrawals, choosing nutrient dense options the majority of the time will ultimately compound on itself for your health," Thomason says. "A healthy diet is made up of our collective choices over time. Thus, one single diet choice cannot worsen your health, and similarly, one nutrition choice cannot improve your health. Using language like 'the healthiest' doesn’t help us understand the complexities of nutrition and choosing balanced choices the majority of the time."
Vegans swear by nutritional yeast.What is it?
veryGood! (85147)
Related
- Nearly half of US teens are online ‘constantly,’ Pew report finds
- Cartel leaders go on killing rampage to hunt down corrupt officers who stole drug shipment in Tijuana
- These songbirds sing for hours a day to keep their vocal muscles in shape
- Bronx deli fire sends flames shooting into night sky, one person is treated for smoke inhalation
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- TikTok's 'let them' theory aims to stop disappointment, FOMO. Experts say it's worth a try.
- From bugs to reptiles, climate change is changing land and the species that inhabit it
- Man, 48, pleads guilty to murder 32 years after Arkansas woman found dead
- Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
- Brooke Shields' Daughter Grier Rewears Her Mom's Iconic Little Black Dress From 2006
Ranking
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Forget 'hallucinate' and 'rizz.' What should the word of the year actually be?
- Pregnant Sienna Miller Addresses 14-Year Age Gap With Boyfriend Oli Green
- Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott’s Child Liam Undergoes Surgery
- Kylie Jenner Shows Off Sweet Notes From Nieces Dream Kardashian & Chicago West
- Students treated after eating gummies from bag with fentanyl residue, sheriff’s office says
- Warriors star Draymond Green suspended indefinitely by NBA
- Luke Combs helping a fan who almost owed him $250,000 for selling unauthorized merchandise
Recommendation
Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
Oprah Winfrey Defends Drew Barrymore From Criticism Over Interview Behavior
Biden considers new border and asylum restrictions as he tries to reach Senate deal for Ukraine aid
Ellen DeGeneres Reflects on One of Her Final Trips with Stephen “tWitch” Boss on Anniversary of His Death
NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
Colorado authorities identify 4 people found dead following reported shooting inside home
Chris Christie looks to John McCain's 2008 presidential primary bid as model for his campaign
Kentucky woman seeking court approval for abortion learns her embryo has no cardiac activity