Many critics promote swapping seed oils for animal fats like butter, beef tallow and lard. Just two decades after the fat-free era of the early 2000s, people are now fighting about which fat is best.
…
Seed oils get a bad rap for a few reasons, says [Nate] Wood. Many critics believe seed oils are harmful because they have a high omega-6 content and they’re found in ultraprocessed foods. Some people also say the refining process makes seed oils “toxic.”
Nutritional science can be confusing, but any claims that seed oil is poisonous are “scientifically wrong,” [Christopher] Gardner says.
Seed oils are generally considered healthier than animal fats due to their high unsaturated fat content, which is linked to a number of benefits backed by research, according to the experts.
Share this article
…
Population studies show people who replace animal-based fats, such as butter or tallow, with seed oils tend to have a lower LDL cholesterol and lower rates of heart disease, Gardner says. “Your overall risk of mortality also goes down,” Wood adds.
However, it’s important to consider how you use the oil. The smoke point, or the temperature at which oil burns, is a big factor, says [Lena] Beal.
