Read Time: 2-3 Minutes
It seems like every week there’s some new food that you should remove from your diet entirely. Lately, seed oils have been under attack, and influencers everywhere are urging you to stop eating them.
So…should you be avoiding seed oils?
Let’s start with what seed oils are.
Seed oils are exactly what they sound like: oils extracted from plants and seeds. Commonly used seed oils include:
- Canola
- Corn
- Sunflower
- Grapeseed
- Soybean
They are the “workhorses” of the culinary world because they have a neutral taste and a high smoke point (meaning they don’t burn easily). Nutritionally, they are packed with Omega-6 fatty acids.
Here’s where it gets interesting. Your body can’t make Omega-6s on its own, and we actually need them for brain function, immune health, and cell integrity.
All those benefits sound great, so why are many health and fitness influencers saying to avoid seed oils?
The “pro-inflammatory” label comes from the fact that Omega-6s can trigger inflammation. While inflammation is a natural immune response (essential for healing), too much of it without enough Omega-3s to balance it out can lead to issues over time.
Seed oils are also calorically dense, containing more calories per volume than other ingredients, which might lead to weight gain. Lastly, seed oils are often an ingredient in heavily processed foods like fast-foods, fried foods, and snacks like chips, cookies, and granola bars.
However, all the above doesn’t make seed oils inherently bad for you.
Founder of Konala Trace Miller suggests a different approach, even though we don’t use seed oils in our cooking process at Konala: “Avoiding seed oils does not count as a diet plan. Focus on high-protein, whole foods, and well-balanced meals. If you’re not mastering the basics of well-balanced macros, the seed oil doesn’t matter.”
You can listen to more of Trace’s thoughts on the seed oil debate here.
Whole foods are minimally-processed foods that contain no added sugars, salts, fats, or artificial ingredients. Think simple ingredients like chicken, steak, rice, avocado, fruit, and vegetables.
If you’re healthy and don’t have chronic inflammatory issues, a little seed oil in your home-cooked meal isn’t going to ruin your progress. The problem is more so what type of foods the seed oils are in, like heavily processed unhealthy snack foods.
Instead of stressing over every drop of oil, try these three steps:
- Prioritize Whole Foods: Reach for ingredients that look like they did when they grew—think chicken, avocado, and rice.
- Balance Your Macros: Focus on high-protein meals to stay full and curb the cravings that lead to processed snacking.
- Consult the Pros: If you have specific health concerns, a licensed dietitian is always a better source than a TikTok trend.
Don’t have time to worry or meal prep? Konala’s done the hard work for you. Our bowls are designed to be high-protein, nutrient-dense, and perfectly balanced. And we don’t even use any seed oils in our cooking process. We focus on the simplicity Trace talks about, so you can enjoy a delicious meal without the nutritional guilt.
Find a location near you or follow us on socials to learn more about making healthy eating delicious and convenient.