Are Seed Oils Bad For Me?
There has been a lot of noise in the press recently over seed oils and their impact on our health, and here at Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil we’ve seen a rise in customers getting in touch asking us to fact check their concerns about rapeseed oil.
This blog will address these common concerns, and hopefully explain where the confusing messages have come from. We can let you know that you don’t need to worry!
Is Rapeseed Oil highly processed?
Firstly, you need to look at whether your oil is cold pressed or refined.
With a cold pressed rapeseed oil like Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil, we use a large screw-like device within the press to gently squeeze the oil from the rapeseed. It is then naturally filtered and sent down the bottling line. Full of flavour and the nutritional benefits you love about our Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil.
With refined rapeseed oil, once the rapeseed has been cold pressed the remaining seed can be washed in a solvent such as hexane, then filtered and cleaned to make it completely safe for human consumption. This process is to get the maximum of the oil from the seed and, whilst safe, can remove some of the fatty acids and vitamin E that makes rapeseed oil so good for you.
Does Rapeseed Oil have lots of saturated fat?
It all gets a little technical here, but let us explain. Saturated fats are lipid molecules without a double bond, whereas polyunsaturated fats are lipid molecules containing two or more double bonds. Your body needs some of these saturated fats to build strong cell membranes, however too much of these can be detrimental to your health.
While both types of fat are present in rapeseed oil, most of the fat content is polyunsaturated fats. Studies show that the substitution of saturated to polyunsaturated fats within a population can lead to a decline in heart disease.
To put it simply, cold-pressed rapeseed oil contains a lower level of saturated fat than other cooking oils and more of the beneficial fats than other oils, meaning it’s a better choice for you and your heart. Compared to olive oil, cold pressed rapeseed oil contains only half the saturated fat.
Does Rapeseed Oil cause inflammation?
The main concern some people have raised around seed oils and other vegetable oils is the high levels of omega-6 fatty acids found in the oil. While omega-6 is certainly present, cold pressed rapeseed oil contains a 1:2 ratio of omega-3 to omega-6, which experts have claimed is the ideal ratio for our health.
It is a well-known fact that omega-3 is good for you, however there are unsubstantiated claims that omega-6 can cause an increase in inflammation markers. Some sources claim that seed oils cause inflammation within the body due to an excess of omega-6, meaning that the body releases cytokines to trap foreign agents and start healing tissue.
A 2022* study shows that omega-6 fatty acids actually have a beneficial effect on cancers, diabetes, kidney disease and muscle function, and that high consumption of these does not cause inflammation as can be suggested. You can also reduce the risk of inflammation in your body by exercising frequently, eating a healthy balanced diet, and limiting your alcohol intake.
What is Erucic Acid?
Erucic acid is an Omega 9 fatty acid. It is found in the seeds of species of the Brassicaceae family (these include rapeseed and mustard seed) and seeds from vegetable crops such as kale, cabbage and turnips.
Is too much Erucic Acid harmful to humans?
Consumption of Erucic acid at high levels can be linked to adverse effects on the heart tissue, most notably causing myocardial lipidosis.
How much Erucic Acid does Rapeseed Oil contain?
From the 1960’s onwards, varieties of rapeseed have been bred to have very little erucic acid content. In most cases this is less than 1%. In the past, the erucic content in traditional rapeseed varieties could have been around 40% or more, and unsafe for regular consumption by humans.
Today, these low erucic acid varieties of oil seed rape (often known as ‘double low’ or ‘double zero’) are grown by farmers in the UK. They are fit for human consumption, so ideal for culinary applications.
How can I be sure that my Rapeseed Oil comes from a low Erucic Acid variety of rapeseed?
In food products it is illegal to use rapeseed oil that has erucic acid levels higher than 5%. However, the maximum erucic acid level set by many food manufacturers is no higher than 2%.
Most ‘double low’ varieties have less than 2% erucic acid, however rapeseed oil producers, us included, still carry out testing on erucic acid levels to ensure that levels of erucic acid remain at a safe level.
How can I ensure a balanced and healthy diet?
Here at Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil, we’re huge fans of the old adage “everything in moderation” and that is absolutely the approach we take for a balanced and healthy diet.
Oils are fats and there’s no hiding from that, but “good” or “useful” fats have a really important role to play in giving our bodies the fuel that they need.
By choosing a cold pressed rapeseed oil like Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil you can ensure that it has not been highly processed and still maintains all its natural goodness. Also knowing it has minimal levels of erucic acid, which are highly unlikely to have an impact on your health when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Nutritionally, there are a lot of benefits in using cold pressed rapeseed oil in your diet.
Cooking from scratch using a wide variety of fresh produce is a great way to ensure you know exactly what you’re putting into your body, and also to ensure you have a balanced diet with all the nutrients your body needs.
We hope we’ve been able to help you continue to enjoy our cold pressed Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil in your diet.
* Kim HK, Kang EY, Go GW – Recent insights into dietary Omega-6 fatty acid health implications using a systematic review – August 2022