Seed oils are killing us.

It is according to a growing chorus of influential people warning about staple foods of the average American diet – calling them toxic and blaming them for an epidemic of inflammation.

But the canola and corn contrarians, the peanut naysayers, the soybean and sunflower naysayers, even the grapeseed naysayers – they’re missing the point, experts say.

And moreover, according to the experts cited by Eat wellsome seed oils in your diet can actually have the opposite effect than people claim.

These influencers typically “base their statements” on studies that the outlet called sometimes “poorly designed” — if they aren’t just busy “repeating” what other influencers said first, they said .

Will Bulsiewicz, a gastroenterologist with a following on social media, recently caused a stir by addressing the subject – saying the problem wasn’t with the oils themselves, but with the fact that Americans are eating too many of them, in foods that no one else will not contest. are not perfect for you. (Think fried, think ultra-processed.)

“Can seed oils be inflammatory in a certain context? Yes, if you eat too much…because you’re getting way too much oil and not enough fiber, you’re going to get inflammation,” he said.

“And that’s the result of overconsumption of calories,” he says. said.

These comments come as a recent narrative review was published in the British Journal of Nutrition, examining various other research on the topic of seed oils and health.

“There’s a lot of misinformation about oils on the Internet,” explained lead author Kristina Petersen, Ph.D., associate professor of nutritional sciences at Penn State.

According to the researchers, when comparing polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats versus saturated fats, the evidence leaned in favor of omega-6 polyunsaturated oils, or n-6 PUFAs, over polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. trendy saturated fats like beef tallow and coconut oil.

“Collectively, the available evidence does not support the claims of harm and in fact shows that oils, particularly oils containing n-6, improve heart health. »

Linoleic acid, found in n-6-containing peanut and sunflower oils, Petersen said, has been “associated with a lower risk of heart disease.”

Clinical trials also showed that consuming linoleic acid “does not increase markers of inflammation or oxidative stress,” she explained.

Ultimately, the pros suggest, the main thing to do is to limit saturated fat. And also, don’t worry too much.

“Current consumption of oils in the United States is within the recommended range for heart health,” Petersen assured.

A few eyebrows might be raised that the new study was “financially supported by the United Soybean Board, the National Corn Growers Association, the Corn Refiners Association, the Canola Council of Canada and the US Canola Association,” according to EatingWell.

But the nutrition-conscious news source said these recent findings are supported by previous research – urging readers to eat a balanced diet and ensure their primary intake of these oils comes from the healthiest sources possible .

That is, cool it on the fries.