Cell Membrane Permeability

Omega 6 and Seed Oils - The Hidden Metabolic Disaster

Your cells are like tiny engines, constantly converting fuel into energy to keep your body running. Each one is surrounded by a protective membrane, and the type of fat you eat directly influences how strong and functional that membrane is.

When your membranes are built from stable, high-quality fats, everything works smoothly—nutrients get in, waste gets out, and energy production stays efficient. But when poor-quality fats, like the unstable omega-6s in seed oils and margarine, become part of your cell structure, things start to break down.

Damaged membranes can't regulate what enters and exits the cell properly. Vital nutrients leak out, toxins build up, and metabolism slows down. Over time, this leads to chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, low energy production and decline. The brain—made up of about 60% fat—is especially vulnerable, affecting cognition, mood, and function.

Why Seed Oils Are a Problem

Seed oils (soybean, canola, sunflower, corn, etc.), margarine, nuts and seeds are packed with polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) that oxidize easily, forming harmful byproducts. Once these fats integrate into your cell membranes, they:

Weaken energy production – Damaged membranes slow down how efficiently your cells turn food into energy, leading to fatigue and weight gain.

Interfere with insulin signaling – When cells can't take in sugar properly, blood glucose stays high, increasing diabetes risk.

Disrupt nutrient absorption – Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) and key minerals (magnesium, zinc, calcium) become harder to use, leading to deficiencies.

Drive chronic inflammation – promote low-grade inflammation linked to heart disease, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegeneration.

Mess with hormones – Cell membranes help regulate thyroid, estrogen, and testosterone function. When membranes are damaged, hormone balance suffers.

Sugar often gets the blame for metabolic diseases, but if glucose can't enter the cell due to dysfunctional membranes, it lingers in the bloodstream—no wonder blood sugar levels rise! The same applies to cholesterol: instead of being used properly, it accumulates in arteries, contributing to plaque formation and cardiovascular disease.

We swapped traditional fats for industrial seed oils—and our health has suffered for it. Are you starting to see how this one dietary shift has impacted... well basically everything?!