Seed Oils and Their Purpose

Seed oils have been a hot button topic lately. Soybean oil (also known as vegetable oil) has found itself at the center of this debate, especially after the publication of the Make America Healthy Again report. The Soy Nutrition Institute is dedicated to researching the health benefits of soy and educating about their findings.

If the end goal is to make Americans healthier, choosing U.S.-grown soybean oil is part of the solution. As research continues to highlight the role of dietary fat in long-term health, soybean oil remains a practical, evidence-based option for improving the quality of the American diet.

What are seed oils? Oils made from the seed of plants including canola, corn, soybean and more.

What are the benefits of soybean oil? With a neutral flavor, potential heart-health benefits and a favorable fatty acid profile, soybean oil is a great choice for consumption. Soybean oil is the only seed oil with a heart healthy claim from the FDA. It is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids including linoleic acid and alpha linolenic acid, both essential for the human body to survive and can only come from the food we consume. Linoleic acid lowers cholesterol levels associated with a decreased risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and all-cause mortality.

Where can you find soybean oil? Soybean oil is commonly labeled as vegetable oil and is used in dressings, margarine, shortenings, sauces, baked goods and more. Vegetable oil is the best oil to fry food like french fries and donuts in due to its temp point.

Want to know ways to incorporate more soy in your diet? Check out Charlene’s virtual recipe book here!

For additional information and resources on this topic, visit snigglobal.org.