Are Seed Oils ALL Bad? I Steel-Manned Both Sides

04/01/25 • 45 min

00:00 Introduction to Seed Oils Debate
03:33 Arguments Against Seed Oils
06:13 Arguments for Seed Oils
11:30 Deep Dive into Mechanisms
17:07 Hexane and Its Implications
21:53 Essential Fatty Acids and Dietary Needs
23:40 Understanding Linoleic Acid and Cardiovascular Health
26:17 Arachidonic Acid: Implications for Heart Disease
28:29 Omega-3 and Omega-6: Impacts on Diabetes
30:00 Seed Oils: Oxidation and Cooking Considerations
36:50 Hexane Extraction: Benefits and Concerns
38:20 My Final Stance Based on Everything

In a new ever evolving world where information flies at us 1000mph, so many people are quick to throw their opinion out there about the latest trending topic without doing their due diligence and getting all of their ducks and facts in a row.
I've been hesitant to form an opinion because I just did not have that much information, however as time has gone on I could feel the pull of the topic. I could no longer avoid it any longer.
I've seen too many people regurgitating things that they had heard elsewhere on podcasts in front of millions of people. Things that they had not looked up even in the slightest.
In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I’m diving headfirst into the heated debate over seed oils. Are they the silent killer lurking in your kitchen, or has the internet blown this way out of proportion? Instead of picking a side, I’m steel-manning both—breaking down the strongest arguments for and against seed oils to separate fact from fearmongering.
I’ll tackle the real science behind how seed oils impact health, dig into the role of essential fatty acids, and expose what food processing methods might not be telling you. There’s a lot of noise out there, but I’m here to cut through it with logic, research, and a no-BS approach. By the end of this episode, you’ll have everything you need to make an informed decision—and yeah, I’ll share where I personally stand on the issue, but not before giving both sides their fair shot.
Ready to challenge what you think you know about seed oils? Let’s go.

References:
Technical Report on Hexane: https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/en-9001?
Iran Study on Hexane Quantities: https://openaccesspub.org/ject/article/622
Omega 6 and CVD: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038908
Replacing Saturated Fat with PUFA: https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-017-0254-5
Pufas and Diabetes: https://www.bmj.com/content/366/bmj.l4697?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Omega 6 and Inflammation Markers: https://www.jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(12)00464-9/abstract
Oils and Bodyweight: https://bmcnutr.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40795-024-00907-0#Tab1

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com

Previous Episode

The Truth About Pain and Injury with Dr. Dan Pope

In this episode of the Always Adaptive Podcast, I sit down with Dan Pope, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, Strength Coach, and host of Fitness Pain Free to dive into his journey in fitness, the importance of evidence-based training, and the complexities of pain management. We get into his transition from personal trainer to physical therapist, how that shift shaped his coaching philosophy, and the practical takeaways from his new book.
We also tackle some of the most debated topics in strength training—including spinal flexion, valgus collapse, and the fine line between injury risk and building resilience. Dan shares his approach to assessments, movement quality, and injury prevention, breaking down what really matters when coaching athletes and general population clients alike.
This conversation is packed with real-world insights for coaches, therapists, and anyone interested in optimizing performance while keeping longevity in mind.
Buy Dans Book: Rock Solid Resilience - https://a.co/d/ix35HbB
Follow Dan:
YouTube - https://a.co/d/ix35HbB
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fitnesspainfree/
00:00 Introduction to Dan Pope and His Journey
03:10 The Motivation Behind Writing a Book
06:06 Transitioning from Personal Trainer to Physical Therapist
09:00 Understanding Pain and Movement in Fitness
11:46 The Complexity of Pain: Bio-Psycho-Social Model
15:08 Back Pain: Commonality and Treatment Approaches
18:14 Assessing Back Pain: The Role of Physical Therapy
20:53 Fitness Assessments: FMS vs. SFMA
23:49 Common Injuries in Strength Athletes
27:03 The Debate on Squatting Depth
30:03 Training Modalities: Flexion vs. Neutral Spine
35:05 Understanding Motion and Load Management
38:21 The Nuances of Spinal Flexion and Injury Risk
41:56 Pain Perception and Movement Patterns
45:51 Symmetry vs. Asymmetry in Movement
48:36 Research Challenges in Strength Training
55:20 Valgus Collapse and Knee Health
01:02:13 Promoting Safe Strength Training Practices

Coaching inquiries email me at [email protected] or visit alwaysadaptive.com

Next Episode

Is Sucralose Actually Bad? You're the Test Subject

You’ve may have heard sucralose is harmful. But what does the science actually say?
This week, I break down four major concerns around sucralose: glucose impairment, gut microbiome disruption, potential weight gain, and mutagenicity.
Some studies show negative effects. Others show nothing. The truth lies in the nuance, and that's exactly what I unpack.
If you're consuming sucralose for weight management or blood sugar control, you need to understand how it really interacts with your body. I don't give you fear or fluff, just evidence.
This is just one part of the full story. Listen to the full episode if you want the complete breakdown.
00:00 Introduction to Sucralose and Its Controversies
02:15 Sucralose Origin Story
03:53 Glucose Impairment
08:33 The Gut Microbiome and Sucralose
15:24 Mutagenic Concerns and Safety of Sucralose
20:19 Weight Management and Sucralose's Role
24:21 Final Stance
References:
Glucose Impairment Bad Control Group: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/36/9/2530/37872/Sucralose-Affects-Glycemic-and-Hormonal-Responses
Carb Sensing from Mouth Rinsing: https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1113/jphysiol.2008.164285
Glucose Impairment/Gut Microbiome Better Control Group: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/shortterm-impact-of-sucralose-consumption-on-the-metabolic-response-and-gut-microbiome-of-healthy-adults/BF3E70C09C5514E4078DB3ED3E8D39B3?
Gut Microbiome Bad Control Group: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/shortterm-impact-of-sucralose-consumption-on-the-metabolic-response-and-gut-microbiome-of-healthy-adults/BF3E70C09C5514E4078DB3ED3E8D39B3?
Blautia Species Provides Benefits: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-47594-w?
More Blautia Benefits: https://advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.202309255
Mutagenicity Study: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10937404.2023.2213903#d1e1138
Sucralose and Weight Management: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522031860?via%3Dihub