Study reveals how 'unhealthy' seed oils can help prevent heart diseases and type 2 diabetes

The seed of thought that certain 'seed oils' are unhealthy and harmful for the body, has been crushed by a new study to reveal a new oily detail. For years, social media health gurus and nutrition coaches have warned people against using seed oils for cooking, treating it like a toxic product.

However, a new study presented at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, has crushed that seed to prove that its oil is, on the contrary, very healthy.

Linoleic acid is healthy for the body

According to the findings of the study, people with high levels of linoleic acid have a lower risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes due to reduced inflammation.

Linoleic acid is present in seed oils, derived from the seeds of a plant such as sunflower, canola and sesame. Thus, this association completely dissolves the belief that seed oils are "bad" for health.

"The study based on almost 1900 people found that higher linoleic acid in blood plasma was associated with lower levels of biomarkers of cardiometabolic risk," said Kevin C. Maki, adjunct professor at the Indiana University School of Public Health-Bloomington in a statement.

The study is based on prominent evidence

While these results match with previous research, this study was based on bloodwork and this makes its findings even more prominent than observational evidence. The study made the use of objective biomarkers rather than diet records or food frequency questionnaires to assess linoleic acid intake.

Additionally, markers of inflammation and indicators of glucose metabolism were also analysed.

Maki noted how they tested for other inflammation biomarkers and consistently found that “people with higher levels of linoleic acid in their blood tended to have a healthier overall risk profile for heart disease and diabetes.”

Not just the study, experts as well are adding to the fact that seed oils aren't as unhealthy as proposed. "Seed oils are objectively quite healthy, in that they’re typically low in saturated fats,” said Kerry Beeson, a nutritional therapist at Prep Kitchen to NY Post.