The Truth About Omega-6 Fats and Kids, with Researcher Dr. Martha Belury

You have probably seen it in your feed: "Seed oils are toxic." "Omega-6 fats cause inflammation." "Never cook with vegetable oil."

But is any of that actually true? And more importantly, what does it mean for what you are feeding your children?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Martha Belury, a registered dietitian and professor at The Ohio State University who has spent more than 30 years studying fatty acid metabolism. She is one of the few researchers in the world who has actually tested the omega-6 theory in clinical settings, and her findings may surprise you.

We cover:

• What omega-6 fatty acids are and why they are considered essential nutrients

• The only two fatty acids your body cannot make on its own and why children need them for healthy growth

• Why the science does not support the idea that seed oils cause inflammation

• The difference between acute and chronic inflammation, and why parents are often confused about what inflammation actually is

• What decades of cardiovascular research tells us about vegetable oils and heart health

• Why there is still no RDA for essential fatty acids and what that gap means for your family

• How to think critically about nutrition claims on social media, especially ones that lead with fear

Dr. Belury also shares what the adult research on linoleic acid and metabolic health may suggest for children with obesity, and why pediatric-specific studies in this area are so urgently needed.

This is not a conversation about what oil to buy. It is a conversation about how to think clearly when you are surrounded by conflicting information and you just want to feed your kids well.

Connect with Dr. Martha Belury:

• LinkedIn: Martha Belury

• Ohio State University, Department of Food Science and Technology: fst.osu.edu

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Nourished Child Blueprint: thenourishedchild.com/blueprint

• Kids Thrive at Every Size by Jill Castle

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