Are Seed Oils Really So Bad For Us?Unless you live under a rock, you will have seen the incessant stream of posts, videos, podcasts and discussions on the evils of seed oils.

One of my long-time readers emailed to ask:

“I’d really love to know Jini’s stance on seed oils right now. Especially since so many holistic doctors even, are saying that even the highest quality brands are so bad for us. Will you ask her please? I’d really like to hear her own explanation.” – P.W.

If you want to do some research, you can find an equal number of research-backed opinion pieces from various PhD’s stating that YES all seed oils are bad and should not be consumed, or, NO all seed oils are not bad; it depends on the type and the method of processing.

This reminds me of the raging debate on butter and fat from pasture-raised animals versus all other oils, remember that?

It reminds me of the vociferous debate on grains versus paleo.

So the first thing I want to point out, is that whenever you see a nutrition/diet trend, be wary and aware. Remember that everyone from manufacturers, to health/diet coaches, to doctors, to social media influencers makes money from nutrition trends, scares, and outrage. There is no financial reward for being balanced, rigorous and calm.

The second thing that I always look at, is my own personal experience. Instead of looking for some outside “expert” to tell me what’s good for my body, how about I ask my own body directly?

And here’s a novel idea: What your body wants/likes can change, depending on a myriad of factors! If you missed my last podcast with food intuitive, Gail Blair, be sure and have a listen as we discuss tolerance thresholds, the root cause of allergies, and the importance of checking in with your body as it heals, or as life changes, or hormones change, etc.

My personal experience with seed oils

Right from the beginning of my research and journey into using an elemental diet to heal inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s, colitis, diverticulitis), I learned the importance of using cold-pressed unrefined oils only. As soon as any oil is heated during the extraction process (except maybe coconut oil) it is denatured. So that’s the first distinction, stay away from heat-extracted and hydrogenated oils. So when I was testing good fat sources to add to my elemental shakes, I tested unrefined cold-pressed flaxseed oil, cold-pressed hempseed oil, MCT oil (from coconut), and a cold-pressed unrefined blend called Udo’s Oil. My body liked the cold-pressed flax oil and Udo’s oil best.

At that time, I was severely malnourished (99 lbs at 5’7″) and so was consuming 8-15 tablespoons of flax and Udo’s per day, added to my elemental shakes. Six weeks later, I was 135 lbs of muscle, cycling to the gym where I pumped weights, 3 times per week. So yeah, my body did extremely well on those seed oils added to my whey isolate (no casein, no lactose) elemental shakes with full nutrients, aminos and targeted healing supplements = The IBD Remission Diet.

I did not tolerate MCT oil at that time (although I’m fine with it now) and my body was okay with hempseed oil, but not a big fan.

After birthing and extended breastfeeding of each of my 3 kids, my body craved fish oil, Udo’s oil, butter, and extra-virgin olive oil. During one of my pregnancies, I also ate Ikura (raw salmon eggs) almost every day for 3 months, because that’s what my body demanded. And guess what, I was one of the few postpartum mothers who did not have any hair loss! Something that pregnant/birthing women are told is ‘normal’ but is actually a nutrient deficiency. I told a number of mothers to begin supplementing with 4 capsules cod liver oil and 2 tablespoons Udo’s oil per day and they were amazed that not only did their hair loss stop, but their hair grew back in, often thicker than before.

Currently, I still consume a lot of good fats because my body needs high protein and high fats – that’s just how I roll. So I use ghee, extra-virgin olive oil, coconut oil, duck fat, MCT oil, Udo’s oil, cod liver oil, and smaller amounts of sesame oil (love toasted sesame oil for my ramen!) and goat butter. I make my own mayonnaise using extra-virgin olive oil, avocado oil, and a lesser amount of unrefined cold-pressed organic safflower oil.

My body does not ever want canola oil in any form – I haven’t researched it, but my sense is they have done something nasty to the rapeseed plant in Canada. I’m okay with cold-pressed organic soybean oil in store-bought mayo – but my body likes it better if I mix it 50/50 with avocado oil mayo.

If you learn how to listen to your gut (not your tastebuds!) and follow your unique body’s guidance, you will never have to worry about what you should/should not eat again. If you don’t know how to do this, then start by listening to my podcast with food intuitive, Gail Blair. Or take any kind of intuition development course you feel led to; self-awareness, listening to your body, listening to your gut guidance or intuition, they’re all just different names for the same thing. Listening to your gut is probably the most powerful healing tool you can have in your medicine bag.

A trusted opinion on the dangers or safety of seed oils

I know what my body’s opinion is on the whole seed oil issue, but what about a second opinion from a trusted source… like the man who formulated Udo’s Oil? Which has helped heal me, hundreds of thousands of my readers, and countless pregnant/postpartum women. This podcast with Udo Erasmus PhD – author of Fats That Heal Fats That Kill, and formulator of Udo’s Oil – is the perfect discussion to close out this topic.

Udo’s clear, no-nonsense style is a breath of cleansing air – enjoy!