drink wholesome makes the best seed oil-free protein powder.
Written by Jack Schrupp & endorsed by Baylee Reller, RDN
What are seed oils?
Seed oils, also known as vegetable oils, are oils that are extracted from the seeds of various plants. They are commonly used in processed foods to improve texture and shelf-stability. Some examples of seed oils include canola (rapeseed), corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, rice bran, safflower, soy, and sunflower.
Are seed oils bad for you?
Manufacturers use solvents, such as hexane, to extract the oil from seeds. Some argue that this process introduces dangerous chemicals to our food, which may or may not be true. Hexane poses a risk to the environment and to workers if they inhale it, but it is less clear whether the trace amounts in seed oils can cause health problems.
Another concern with seed oils is that when you heat them up repeatedly, you cause a buildup of harmful chemicals. This is really only an issue in restaurant and factory deep-fryers, however, where oils get changed only once or twice a week. Cooking with seed oils at home does not cause this problem.
The real reason to avoid seed oils is the simple fact that they look nothing like real food. Your body was designed to break down and absorb minimally or unprocessed foods, foods that can be found in nature. Examples include fruits, vegetables, grains, fish, meat, eggs, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
Note that this list includes seeds, not seed oils. Seeds can be found in nature. Seed oils cannot. In fact, canola oil looks more like a science experiment than food. It is extracted from the seeds of the canola plant using either a chemical solvent or oil mill. It is then purified, refined, and sometimes chemically altered. You do not need a degree in nutrition to know intuitively that foods like this are probably not supposed to be part of a human’s diet.
