Does rapeseed oil really cause inflammation?
Published 4 November 2026
Hello! Wednesday is our day for learning.
On social media, we increasingly hear that seed oils such as rapeseed and sunflower oil cause inflammation and should be thrown out of the kitchen and replaced with butter. It sounds convincing, but does science back it up? Food and biotechnology student Anette Auväärt reviewed what decades of research actually tell us about seed oils.
One fact to take away
Not all seed oils are the same. In one laboratory experiment, oils were heated at 180 °C for up to 90 minutes: regular sunflower oil produced the most harmful aldehydes, while rapeseed and olive oil produced fewer. Refined rapeseed or olive oil is suitable for everyday frying. Most importantly: do not let the oil smoke and do not reuse the same oil.
Where did the inflammation claim come from in the first place? Why did two old heart studies produce such surprising results? And which is the better choice, olive or rapeseed oil? You will find the answers on the blog, and at the end of the article you can earn one knowledge point by answering review questions.
Read the article and earn a knowledge point
Happy reading!
The FitQ and FunTastyQ Fit team
