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QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, After eating fast food I often feel bloated, sluggish, and even a little nauseous. Recently, I’ve seen heaps of wellness influencers blaming seed oils like canola or soybean for inflammation, poor digestion, and overall “toxicity”. Is there actually any science behind this, or is it just another internet scapegoat? — Dani, 32, Albury NSW ANSWER: Dear Dani, Thanks so much for questioning everything that you see on social media. Seed oils definitely are under the microscope at the moment but before you swear off canola oil let’s have a look at what the research really says....

The battle over the health merits of various cooking fats has never really gotten below a simmer — but it’s starting to heat up again. Beef tallow and other animal fats, including pig lard and butter, were traditionally used as the main cooking fats in the United States up until the early 20th century. A shift occurred in the early to mid-20th century, when scientists started looking into the consumption of animal fat as the culprit behind the uptick of cardiovascular issues. Vegetable and seed oils that had largely been used for industrial purposes — such as soaps, machinery fuel...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Trump, made waves on Monday when he joined Sean Hannity for an interview at a Florida Steak ‘n Shake location. The two conservative powerhouses dug into burgers and fries while discussing the real health crisis gripping America—one caused by decades of government-endorsed junk science that pushed seed oils and ultra-processed foods on the public. Earlier this year, Steak ‘n Shake announced that by February 2025, all its locations will transition away from vegetable oil—a product long criticized for its links to inflammation, obesity, and chronic...

Until recently, most Americans had never heard the term “seed oils,” even though they’ve likely cooked with and consumed them for decades. It’s the catchy description coined by internet influencers, wellness gurus and some politicians to refer to common cooking oils — think canola, soybean and corn oil — that have long been staples in many home kitchens. Those fiery critics refer to the top refined vegetable oils as “the hateful eight” and claim that they’re fueling inflammation and high rates of chronic diseases like obesity and diabetes. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the new health secretary, has said Americans are...

Certain types of cooking oils may be fueling a surge of colon cancers in young Americans, a government-funded study suggests. Consuming large amounts of seed oils – which include sunflower, canola, corn and grapeseed – has long been linked to inflammation in the body. But now a study analyzing the tumors of more than 80 patients with colon cancer has found they may also raise the risk of one of the fastest-growing forms of the disease. Researchers found patients' tumors had high levels of bioactive lipids, microscopic fatty compounds produced when the body breaks down seed oils. These lipids are...

President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for Health and Human Services has brought renewed attention to Kennedy’s stance on health matters, including his belief that beef tallow is a healthier cooking fat than seed oils. On social media, Kennedy recently cited beef tallow as a more natural, nutritious option, especially compared to widely used seed oils like canola and soybean oil. In an October post, Kennedy suggested that seed oils are a primary contributor to the obesity crisis, tying their rise in popularity to fast food chains like McDonald’s. The shift from beef tallow to seed oils...

This five minute video shows where canola oil, vegetable shortening, and cattle feed come from. No wonder our spending on health care is so high. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfk2IXlZdbI

After five decades of inaction, the Food and Drug Administration revoked the authorization of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food on July 3, 2024. The additive bromine, used to stabilize fruit flavorings in beverages and sodas, has toxic effects and has already been banned in many places, including California, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. What was the agency’s excuse for its 50 years in limbo? The FDA insisted it was “waiting for more safety data.” Right. Consumer advocates called the FDA’s ban on brominated vegetable oil in food “a victory for public health.” Still, digging deeper, it is indisputable...