Misinformation about the so-called ‘Hateful 8’ seed oils is circulating on social media, prompting experts to clarify the facts surrounding their health effects.
London: Lately, there’s been a lot of chatter online about these so-called ‘Hateful 8’ seed oils. People are saying we should steer clear of them because they’re supposedly harmful. But hold on a second—let’s break this down.
So, what are these eight oils? They include rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, corn, grapeseed, rice bran, and safflower. Videos are claiming that these oils are bad for you because they have high omega-6 fatty acids. But guess what? There’s no solid research backing that up.
Some folks are saying that omega-6 causes inflammation, linking it to serious health issues like depression and cancer. But recent studies on humans show no real connection between these conditions and omega-6 consumption. In fact, a 2020 study found that eating more omega-6 might actually lower the risk of metabolic diseases.
Now, here’s the kicker: humans are meant to consume omega-3 and omega-6 in a balanced way, ideally at a 1:1 ratio. But we’re actually eating way more omega-6—about 16 times more! The idea is that too much omega-6 could lead to inflammation, but the levels are pretty minimal compared to the anti-inflammatory benefits of omega-3.
Dr. Sarah Berry from King’s College London says it’s all good as long as you’re getting enough omega-3. She reassures us that consuming omega-6 won’t lead to any nasty inflammatory responses. In fact, omega-6 can help protect against chronic diseases.
Some of those misleading videos also mention hexane, a solvent used in making these oils, and other chemicals. But in the UK, strict quality controls mean that any harmful substances are removed, leaving only trace amounts in the final product.
Dr. Berry adds that the industrial fats we have today in the U.S. and U.K. don’t contain harmful trans fats anymore. Most of those fats come from dairy, and some studies even suggest they might be good for you. So, the idea that seed oils are loaded with trans fats is just plain old misinformation.
