The Seed Oil Trap: What Every Athlete Should Know About Fats, Fuel, and Peak Performance

In this episode of The Elite Athlete Podcast, Dr. Nicole Tatro dives into a topic that could be a game-changer for athletes and their parents: seed oils. Inspired by a recent conversation with a college hockey player who discovered the impact of these oils on his own performance, Dr. Nicole explains what seed oils are, why they may be hindering your athletic potential, and how to choose healthier fats that can boost recovery, energy, and long-term performance. Key Points Covered: Understanding Seed Oils: What are seed oils, and why are they everywhere? Discover how oils like soybean, corn, and canola are commonly used in processed foods—and why these highly refined oils may be increasing inflammation and reducing recovery in athletes. The Omega-6 to Omega-3 Imbalance: Learn how an excess of omega-6 fatty acids from seed oils can throw off the body’s essential balance, leading to chronic inflammation and impacting performance, focus, and health. Healthier Oil Alternatives: Dr. Nicole shares three high-performance oils—olive, avocado, and coconut oil—and explains how these oils provide anti-inflammatory benefits, sustained energy, and recovery support that can fuel your best athletic self. Action Steps: Making small, consistent changes can lead to huge gains. Dr. Nicole challenges listeners to start by checking ingredient labels for hidden seed oils and offers practical ways to make smarter choices with lasting results. Game Plan Session: Ready to take your game to the next level? Dr. Nicole is now offering a limited-time Game Plan Session to create a customized approach to fueling, training, and optimizing your body for peak performance. Visit www.the-eliteathlete.com to book your session. Let’s kick off 2025 strong—Dr. Nicole has a goal to impact 1,000 athletes this year, and you can be one of them! Tune in to learn: How simple swaps in dietary fats can transform your energy, recovery, and health Why reading ingredient labels is crucial, even on “healthy” snacks Practical ways to reduce inflammation and protect your long-term performance For more insights like these, subscribe to The Elite Athlete Podcast and sign up for The Inside Edge newsletter at www.the-eliteathlete.com. Join us each week as we tackle nutrition, training, and health tips to help athletes reach their peak potential from the inside out.