Friday Q&A: seed oils; avoiding cancer screenings (e.g. mammograms); gum disease and heart health; & caregiver burnout

Keep the questions coming! 👏

ICYMI 👉

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In this week’s reader-submitted Q&A, we’re tackling these questions:

• Are seed oils actually toxic, or is this just another wellness fad?

• How can I overcome the anxiety around scheduling my next mammogram?

• Is there a link between dental health and heart health?

• How do I care for my aging mother without destroying my own health?

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📣 Send me your questions for future Q&As! Click here to write me. ✍️

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

The following subscriber questions have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

QUESTION #1: SEED OILS

My daughter-in-law has convinced my whole family that seed oils are toxic. We've considered throwing out all our canola oil and have been buying expensive avocado oil for everything. I'm 64 and have been cooking with regular oil forever. Is this a legitimate concern or just another food fad?

-Margaret

Hi Margaret,

Your instincts are spot-on. The seed oil panic is the latest entry in a long line of wellness fads that create fear around perfectly safe foods. This trend follows a familiar pattern: take a grain of scientific truth, amplify it through social media, and create an entire ideology around avoiding something most people have been consuming without issue for decades!

The core claim that seed oils like canola, soybean, and corn oil are "toxic" stems from concerns about their omega-6 fatty acid content and processing methods. Yes, the typical American diet contains more omega-6 fats relative to omega-3 fats than would be ideal. But the solution isn't to panic about canola oil—it's to eat more omega-3 rich foods like fatty fish, walnuts, and flaxseeds while maintaining a balanced overall diet.

Canola oil is actually nutritionally reasonable. It's low in saturated fat, contains some omega-3s, and has been extensively studied. The processing involved in making most cooking oils—including some of those expensive "clean" alternatives—involves similar industrial methods. Your body doesn't care whether the oil came from a rapeseed or an avocado; it responds to the fatty acid profile and how the oil fits into your overall eating pattern.

Here's what really matters: the quality of your entire diet, not individual ingredients. If you're eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins, the type of oil you cook with is frankly insignificant. Someone consuming a diet rich in processed foods isn't going to meaningfully improve their health by switching from canola to avocado oil, and someone eating a nutrient-dense diet isn't going to harm themselves by using conventional cooking oils.

One final consideration: the financial cost of this fear is real. Many families are spending significantly more on specialty oils without any measurable health benefit. That money might be better invested in higher-quality proteins, organic produce, or other foods that actually make a nutritional difference.

My advice? Keep cooking the way you've been cooking. Your decades of good health speak for themselves!

QUESTION #2: AVOIDING A MAMMOGRAM

I've been putting off my mammogram for 8 months because I'm honestly terrified they'll find something. I know this is stupid - I'm a smart woman who gets her other checkups - but the anxiety is paralyzing me. How do you talk patients like me off the ledge?

-Catherine

Catherine, I want to start by saying that anxiety about cancer screenings—particularly mammograms!—is incredibly common. In fact, I'd venture that most of my patients have felt some version of what you're describing. The fear of finding something is a deeply human response to uncertainty.

Here's what I tell patients like you: sometimes the anxiety becomes more harmful than the thing we're afraid of discovering. Those eight months of worry, the mental energy spent avoiding the appointment, the guilt you're carrying about postponing it—all of that is taking a real toll on your wellbeing. Meanwhile, mammography remains our best tool for early breast cancer detection, when treatment is most effective and outcomes are best.

Let me give you some context that might help ease your worry. The vast majority of mammograms—about 90%—are completely normal. Even when something abnormal shows up, most findings require additional imaging but turn out to be benign. The anxiety you're experiencing right now is often worse than the actual experience of getting the test and receiving results.

I also want you to know that breast cancer, when caught early, has excellent treatment outcomes. Five-year survival rates for early-stage breast cancer are over 90%. This means that even in the scenario you're most afraid of, early detection through mammography gives you the best possible chance for successful treatment.

Consider this: you get your other checkups because you understand they're investments in your health. A mammogram is no different. It's not about expecting to find something wrong—it's about taking care of yourself so you can continue living your life with confidence.

My suggestion? Schedule the appointment today, while you're feeling motivated. Tell the scheduler about your anxiety—they've heard it before and can often accommodate preferences like scheduling earlier in the day or providing extra support. Remember, the hardest part is often just making the decision to go!

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QUESTION #3: GUM DISEASE & HEART HEALTH

My dentist is recommending gum surgery for periodontal disease. She mentioned it's connected to heart problems - should I be more concerned about my gums, or is this just expensive dental work? I am suspicious…

-Patricia

Hello Patricia,

Your dentist is absolutely right to emphasize the heart connection—periodontal disease represents a perfect example of how our bodies are deeply interconnected systems rather than isolated parts. This isn't just expensive dental work; it's preventive medicine for your entire cardiovascular system.

The connection between gum disease and heart problems is well-established and goes beyond simple correlation. Chronic periodontal disease creates ongoing inflammation in your mouth, which doesn't stay localized. The bacteria from infected gums can enter your bloodstream and travel throughout your body, contributing to the formation of arterial plaques. More importantly, the inflammatory response triggered by gum disease becomes systemic, affecting your entire cardiovascular system.

Think of periodontal disease as a chronic low-grade infection that your immune system is constantly fighting. This persistent inflammatory state puts stress on your heart and blood vessels in ways that can increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular events. The research shows that people with severe gum disease have a significantly higher risk of heart disease, and treating periodontal disease can actually improve cardiovascular outcomes.

While gum surgery might seem like a significant investment now, it's far less expensive—both financially and physically—than dealing with heart disease down the road. Beyond the heart connection, untreated periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss, bone deterioration, and chronic pain that affects your quality of life. It can also make managing other health conditions more difficult, as chronic inflammation interferes with your body's ability to heal and maintain optimal function.

I'd encourage you to view this recommendation through the lens of whole-body health rather than just dental health. Your mouth is an integral part of your overall health ecosystem. 🦷

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QUESTION #4: CAREGIVER BURNOUT

My mom moved in with us after dad died and I'm exhausted from caregiving. She really needs me, and I feel guilty for being tired all the time. How do you take care of someone else without destroying your own health?

-Susan

Greetings Susan,

First let me say this clearly: your exhaustion isn't a character flaw, and feeling guilt—while an understandable human response—only adds unnecessary suffering to an already difficult situation. What you're experiencing is the very real physical toll of chronic caregiver stress, and it's a legitimate health concern.

The guilt you're feeling is incredibly common among caregivers, especially women who've been socialized to believe their needs don't matter as much as others'. But here's what I want you to understand: taking care of yourself isn't selfish—it's a prerequisite for sustainable caregiving. You cannot pour from an empty cup, and right now, you're running on fumes.

Your body is telling you something important. Chronic stress floods your system with cortisol and adrenaline, disrupts your sleep, compromises your immune function, and can lead to everything from headaches and digestive issues to high blood pressure and depression. This isn't weakness; it's biology. No CT scan can visualize the physical effects of sleep deprivation, constant worry, or the way your nervous system gets stuck in overdrive from months of hypervigilance.

Caregiver stress creates a unique form of chronic activation where your brain remains in threat-detection mode, scanning for problems, anticipating needs, and managing crises. This state of constant alertness is exhausting and unsustainable. Your fatigue is your body's way of signaling that this system is overloaded.

The solution isn't to power through or feel guilty about needing help. It's to recognize that effective caregiving requires a support system—for both you and your mother. Consider respite care services, adult day programs, or even hiring help for a few hours weekly. Connect with caregiver support groups where you'll find people who truly understand what you're going through. Most importantly, schedule non-negotiable time for basic self-care: adequate sleep, regular meals, some form of movement, and moments of genuine rest.

Remember, your mother needs you healthy and present for the long term, and taking care of yourself isn't abandoning her—it's ensuring you can continue being there for her in a sustainable way.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are entirely my own. They are not a substitute for advice from your personal physician.

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ICYMI, check out my recent Q&As on:

• Managing low blood pressure; cholesterol and egg intake; hand tremors; & restless leg syndrome

• Risks of marijuana use; changing primary care providers; estrogen for older women; & preventing degenerative spine disease

• Which supplements to take; age-related weight gain; perimenopause and alcohol; & heart palpitations