Beef Tallow vs. Seed Oils: Why Your Fries (and Your Health) Deserve Better
"Burger Chain Announces States Where Fries Have Been RFK'd."
Ha, interesting headline I recently came across, but it certainly worked ... I immediately dug in.
After reading the article, let’s talk about it—what we cook our food in. (And, if things go the way RFK Jr. would like when it comes to our food, I hope to read more articles like this one.)
For years, we’ve been told that seed oils (like soybean, canola, and corn oil) are the “healthier” option.
Meanwhile, good old-fashioned beef tallow got pushed to the side.
But now, people are waking up to the truth: seed oils aren’t the health heroes they were made out to be—and beef tallow might just be the upgrade your kitchen (and your body) needs.
So, what’s the deal? Let’s break it down.
1. Beef Tallow Can Handle the Heat (Seed Oils Can’t)
Ever heard that you shouldn’t cook with olive oil at high heat? That’s because it’s unstable, meaning it breaks down and creates harmful compounds when heated too much. Now, take that problem and multiply it with seed oils—which are even worse!
Seed oils are packed with polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) that oxidize easily. When you heat them up—say, for frying or roasting—they produce inflammatory byproducts that have been linked to all sorts of health issues, including heart disease and cancer.
Beef tallow? Way more stable. It’s mostly saturated and monounsaturated fats, which hold up under heat like a champ. That means fewer toxic compounds in your food and a healthier choice for cooking.
2. Less Omega-6, Less Inflammation
Here’s something that might surprise you: too much omega-6 can cause inflammation.
And guess what’s LOADED with omega-6?
Yep, seed oils. The modern diet already contains way more omega-6s than we need, and this imbalance can fuel inflammation, weight gain, and chronic disease.
Beef tallow, on the other hand, has a much better balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids.
Translation? It helps keep inflammation down instead of adding fuel to the fire.
3. Real Nutrients, Real Benefits
Seed oils are pretty much empty calories—they offer little nutritional value beyond fat.
Meanwhile, beef tallow is actually a nutrient powerhouse. It naturally contains:
Vitamin A (for immune function and skin health)
Vitamin D (essential for bones and overall wellness)
Vitamin K2 (which helps calcium go where it belongs—your bones, not your arteries)
So, if you’re going to eat fat (which, spoiler, you should), why not choose one that actually has a greater benefit for your body?
4. No Sketchy Processing or Chemicals
Let’s talk about how seed oils are made—because it’s not pretty.
Most of them go through high-heat processing, chemical extractions (yep, petroleum solvents like hexane are used), and deodorizing to mask the rancid smell. Basically, they’re heavily processed industrial oils that have no place in our food.
Now, beef tallow? It’s literally just rendered beef fat. That’s it. No weird chemicals, no heavy processing—just a traditional, natural fat that humans have used for centuries.
5. It Tastes Better—And You Know It
Alright, let’s be real—food cooked in beef tallow just tastes better. (This may be my opinion, but I think you'll agree.)
Remember when McDonald’s fries used to be insanely good?
That’s because they were fried in beef tallow (from 1940 until 1990). Then the anti-fat movement kicked in, and they switched to seed oils. Guess what? The fries never tasted the same again.
Now, more people (and even some restaurants) are going back to tallow—because not only is it better for you, but it also makes food taste incredible.
Time to Rethink Your Cooking Oil
I get it—making changes to your diet can feel overwhelming. But if there’s one simple swap that can make a difference, it’s this:
Ditch the seed oils and start cooking with beef tallow.
Your body will thank you. Your taste buds will thank you. And once you go back to real, natural fats, you’ll wonder why we ever ditched them in the first place.
Remember … GIVE YOUR BODY WHAT IT NEEDS, WHEN IT NEEDS IT!
Jaime Rothermich, RD, CSSD, LD, PPSCxKB, CSCS
Functional Elements Training and Nutrition
TRAIN FOR LIFE
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