Written by: Mantasha
31 July 2025
Not all oils are created equal, and some can do more harm than good. Whether it's due to toxic compounds, high levels of inflammation-triggering fats, or simply being overprocessed, these eight cooking oils deserve a hard pass in your kitchen.
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Often a mix of low-quality oils such as soybean, corn, and canola, this highly refined product is stripped of nutrients and packed with omega-6 fatty acids that can fuel chronic inflammation. Plus, it oxidizes quickly under heat.
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Touted as "heart-healthy" for years, canola oil is usually refined and deodorized through high-heat processing and chemical solvents. It’s also often genetically modified and can produce harmful free radicals when heated.
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Loaded with omega-6s and often extracted using hexane, corn oil can increase inflammation in the body and degrade quickly under high temperatures, releasing toxic aldehydes into your food.
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Highly processed and cheap, soybean oil is one of the most commonly used oils in processed foods, and one of the worst for your health. It’s linked to hormonal imbalances, inflammation, and gut disruption.
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While unrefined sunflower oil in small amounts is okay, the refined version used in most kitchens has a high omega-6 content and low stability under heat, making it a poor choice for frying or high-heat cooking.
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Though natural palm oil isn’t as bad, the hydrogenated version found in processed foods and snacks is a trans fat bomb. It's not just bad for your health, it's also linked to massive environmental damage.
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Not meant for human consumption originally, cottonseed oil is a byproduct of the cotton industry. It’s heavily treated with pesticides, high in saturated fat, and often not even food-grade without refining.
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Marketed as healthy, grapeseed oil is rich in omega-6s and oxidizes quickly at high heat. While it’s fine for low-heat salad dressings, it should not be used for frying, sautéing, or baking.
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If you’re using any of the oils above daily, it’s time to reconsider. Swapping them for healthier alternatives can reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and make your meals cleaner, without sacrificing flavor.
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