[hollerith]

Paul Saladino advocates a theory that humans cannot handle a lot of linoleic acid in the diet: it decreases the performance of membranes, particularly of mitochondria (which in turn causes insulin resistance, obesity and other problems cause by chronic lack of ATP).

Saladino says that it would have been impossible for an ancestral human (particularly in Northern Eurasia where meat from grass-eating animals constituted the majority of calories) to get more than about 3% of calories as linoleic acid whereas the US average is now about 11%. Sunflower seed oil for example is 67% linoleic. corn oil, 53%, soybean oil, 52%. (Most of the omega-6 fatty acid in the human diet is linoleic acid.)

Here is Paul Saladino explaining it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j75kc5qamXs

[aeries]

Paul Saladino isn't a credible source of information or theories. He's a non-practicing psychiatrist and social media influencer who's gotten rich making contrarian videos and selling supplements.

[hollerith]

I've learned a lot from people who make Youtube videos for a living.

[aeries]

Watching Youtube videos can make us believe we understand a topic better, but that's not necessarily the case. And without a good understanding of that topic to begin with, it's hard to know why we're wrong.

Imagine watching a super compelling Youtube video explaining why dinosaurs never existed, and so you now think that's a credible hypothesis. You would probably know more facts about dinosaurs and paleontology than the average person, but I'd argue that your understanding of dinosaurs has actually gone down.

I see a similar thing happening here. You and Paul are able to cite lots of facts about Linoleic Acid. But there's a whole body of experimental human research showing that, if anything, LA-rich oils probably slightly improve insulin sensitivity, inflammation, lipids etc. But Paul either isn't aware of this or chooses not to show you because it contradicts his claims. So you're left with the wrong impression about LA and seed oils, despite thinking that your understanding has gone up.

[daveguy]

To be fair, there's a difference between "people who make YouTube videos for a living" and people who make videos to spout contrarian "theories" so they can sell snake oil.

[alfiopuglisi]

Well, at least they don't sell seed oil :)