The Truth About Seed Oils with Cherie Calbom | Foodie Pharmacology with Dr. Cassandra Quave

Seed oils are everywhere. From salad dressings to snack foods, they’ve become a quiet staple of the modern diet. But how did they get there, and what do we really know about their impact on human health? This week on Foodie Pharmacology, Dr. Cassandra Quave sits down with nutritionist Cherie Calbom, MS, known as “The Juice Lady,” to unpack the rise of industrial seed oils and the debate surrounding them. Cherie shares her personal journey into nutrition, which began with a serious health crisis and led her to rethink the role of food in healing. Together, they explore what seed oils actually are, how they are processed, and why their chemical structure makes them vulnerable to oxidation. The conversation traces their history from industrial byproducts to “heart-healthy” staples, shaped by wartime supply chains, shifting dietary guidance, and powerful marketing. They also dig into where these oils are hiding in everyday foods, why they can be difficult to avoid even when you are trying to eat well, and how to navigate labels in a highly processed food environment. If you’ve ever wondered what’s really in the oils lining grocery store shelves, or why this topic has become so widely debated, this episode offers a deeper look at the science, history, and real-world implications of seed oils in today’s diet. Learn more about Cherie’s work at thejuiceladycherie.com