Let’s Be Real: Seed Oils Didn’t Make Us Fat
There’s a lot of hype right now about seed oils being “toxic” or the root of the obesity epidemic. Let’s be real here: regardless of whether you think canola, soybean, or sunflower oil is healthy or unhealthy, seed oils themselves are not the reason people are gaining weight.
At Fivefold Force, we’re about cutting through noise and fear-mongering to get to the truth. So here it is, plain and simple: seed oils didn’t make us fat.
Here are five reasons why:
1️⃣ Correlation ≠ Causation
Yes, seed oil use went up over the same decades that obesity rates climbed. But so did soda consumption, processed snacks, and total daily calorie intake. Just because two trends rose together doesn’t mean one caused the other.
Obesity is complex. Blaming one ingredient oversimplifies a problem driven by chronic overeating, highly processed foods, sedentary living, and marketing that pushes addictive junk.
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2️⃣ Seed Oils Aren’t Proven to Be Inflammatory
You’ll hear claims that omega‑6 fatty acids in seed oils “cause inflammation.” But real human studies consistently show no such effect—and sometimes even anti-inflammatory outcomes.
Linoleic acid (the main omega‑6 in seed oils) doesn’t raise inflammatory markers in the body. That’s not internet opinion—that’s from controlled nutrition studies involving thousands of people.
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3️⃣ Linoleic Acid May Be Protective
Far from being toxic, linoleic acid has been associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Large-scale studies show that replacing saturated fats with polyunsaturated fats—including seed oils—improves cholesterol profiles and cardiovascular health.
It’s ironic that people rail against seed oils while praising animal fats that are well-proven to raise LDL cholesterol and heart risk.
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4️⃣ The Real Culprit: Ultra-Processed Food
Seed oils are everywhere in processed food—not because they’re evil but because they’re cheap. The real problem isn’t the oil itself—it’s the sugar, refined carbs, salt, additives, and sheer calorie density of those foods.
Eat real, whole foods and you can use any reasonable cooking oil without worry. It’s not your drizzle of canola or soybean oil at home that’s the enemy—it’s the packaged junk that uses those oils in giant, calorie-loaded amounts.
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5️⃣ Seed Oils Are Better Than Saturated Animal Fats
When people swap butter or tallow for vegetable oils in cooking, studies show lower rates of cardiovascular disease and even lower overall mortality.
Replacing even one tablespoon of saturated fat with seed oil daily has been linked with significant reductions in heart disease risk. That’s not speculation—it’s public health research repeated over decades.
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🔥 Bottom Line
Seed oils are not what’s making the population obese. The root causes are:
• Chronic overeating
• Ultra-processed food
• Sedentary lifestyles
• Marketing that sells addictive junk
Demonizing seed oils distracts from the real problem.
At Fivefold Force, we believe in:
✅ Eating whole, minimally processed foods
✅ Cooking at home when you can
✅ Choosing your oils mindfully, without fear-based hype
✅ Staying active and moving your body
If you want to use olive or avocado oil, do it. They’re great choices. But don’t fall for the idea that seed oils alone are making people fat. The truth is more complicated—and more empowering.
Eat well. Train hard. Live with purpose. That’s the way forward.