Gut Check: How Seed Oils Are Wreaking Havoc on Your Digestive Health

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Let’s talk about seed oils and how they can seriously mess with your gut health. I know, it sounds dramatic, but trust me—this is important. Seed oils can throw off the delicate balance of your gut microbiota, which is basically the ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms that help keep your gut and immune system in check. The omega-6 fats in seed oils—especially when you’re getting too much of them—can give the bad bacteria a chance to take over, setting off inflammation in the gut lining. And when that happens, things can get ugly.

On top of that, seed oils are prone to oxidation, meaning they go bad easily, especially when heated. When you eat them, those oxidized oils release free radicals (basically little troublemakers that damage cells). This can lead to leaky gut, where the gut lining becomes damaged, allowing toxins and undigested food to escape into the bloodstream. The result? Your immune system kicks into high gear, causing even more inflammation.

But it doesn’t stop there. Seed oils can actually activate inflammatory pathways in your gut, which can contribute to chronic conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). And since your gut is connected to your brain through the gut-brain axis, chronic gut inflammation can mess with your mood, stress levels, and cognitive function. Yes, seed oils could be contributing to those “off days” when you just don’t feel like yourself.

So, how do you know if this is happening to you? The tricky part about leaky gut is that it can be hard to diagnose—there’s no specific test for it. But you might notice signs like bloating, digestive issues, fatigue, food sensitivities, or skin problems. These symptoms overlap with other conditions, so it’s easy to overlook the real culprit: your gut health.

The good news? You can heal your gut! It starts with cutting out inflammatory foods (looking at you, seed oils) and adding in gut-friendly options like fermented foods, bone broth, and probiotics. Supplements like L-glutamine and omega-3s can also help repair the gut lining. And don’t forget to manage stress—because, let’s be real, stress wreaks havoc on everything.

One of the biggest issues I see with my clients is that so many of them have leaky gut and don’t even realize it. Worse, their doctors aren’t talking about it—they’re just handing out pharmaceuticals to cover up the symptoms. But once you address the leaky gut, those other problems will start to fade away. Our health is like an onion; we’ve got to peel back the layers to find the root cause. Your body wants to be in balance, but it can’t get there without some changes.

Healing leaky gut takes a holistic approach—diet, lifestyle, stress management, and overall well-being all play a role. But remember, you don’t have to do it alone! I’m here to help guide you. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out, and I can connect you with a nutritionist to help you on your path to better health. You’ve got this!

Here are a couple of great articles to check out. Weston A. Price is an excellent source of information on nutrition and health.

Leaky Gut, Autoimmunity and Chronic Disease

How to Restore Your Digestive Health