Linoleic acid is the most abundant Omega-6 fatty acid found in a variety of the oils which are used for cooking food. While low levels of Omega-6 fatty acids are fine for human body, excessive levels lead to Cardio Vascular Disease, at times triggered by excessive build up of arterial plaques.
Linoleic acid, the primary Omega-6 fatty acid found in seed oils is also predominantly found in atherosclerotic plaques at concentrations exceeding 10X higher than in healthy tissues. Quite contrary to the common understanding that Sat Fats / Saturated Fats were so far implicated with CVDs, the real culprit is Linoleic Acid from much touted as healthy, seed oils.
Newer research is unearthing the components of atherosclerotic plaque build and this is leading to an increasing understanding that excessive consumption of seed oils is partly to blame for plaque build up as higher caloric diets are replacing the traditional, nutrient dense diets which included generous amounts of fish and seafoods. This is the direct physical evidence. But we’re still pretending dietary cholesterol is depositing in arteries like grease in a pipe. That’s not how biochemistry works.
Cholesterol doesn’t just “stick” to arterial walls. What happens: Seed oils oxidise, create inflammation, damage the arterial lining, and then LDL (carrying oxidised seed oils) gets trapped in the repair process. The seed oils are the cause. LDL is just the unfortunate carrier.
| Sr No | List of Oils Very High in Omega-6 LINOLEIC ACID | %age |
| 1 | Safflower Oil | 75 – 70% |
| 2. | Sunflower Oil | 65 – 75% |
| 3. | Grapeseed Oil | 69 – 73% |
| 4. | Corn Oil | 58 – 62% |
| 5. | Soyabean Oil | 50 – 60% |
| 6. | Cottonseed Oil | 50 – 58% |
| 7. | Sesame Oil | 40 – 45% |
| 8. | Rice Bran Oil | 33 – 39% |
| 9. | Peanut Oil | 30 – 35% |
| 10. | Canola Oil | Around 20% |
