Which are the healthiest oils for cooking?
One of the most difficult decisions that people make when cooking is deciding which is the best cooking oil to use.
Commonly, canola, or vegetable oil is marketed as a healthy oil to use for frying or baking. Canola oil is thought to be a heart-healthy oil because of its low level of saturated fat content and the fact that it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are also beneficial for the heart.
Aside from canola oil, a number of other oils are used for cooking. These refined oils include corn, safflower and grapeseed oil.These oils are frequently used in processed foods, and are unfortunately the least healthy oils for our body.
They are produced under intense heat and pressure and the side-effect of this is that free radicals, or (organic molecules that can cause aging, tissue damage and a number of ailments) may be present within these oils.
Are all polyunsaturated oils bad for your diet?
Not all polyunsaturated oils are bad. In fact, it they are harmless and in fact good for your health if they are in their natural state. For a great source of polyunsaturated oils, try raw nuts or seeds, which are both high in omega fatty acids.
Processed polyunsaturated oils are the most inflammatory inside our bodies because of their high reactivity to heat and light. This inflammation is what causes many of our internal problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and other degenerative diseases.
A completely different way of looking at oils is by seeing how stable they are. The more stable (how the fat behaves under heat and pressure), the better a fat is for cooking or frying. The order from most stable to least stable fats is saturated –> monounsaturated–>polyunsaturated.
The significance of this is that the healthiest oil for cooking is in fact saturated fats, due to their highest stability (remember the less a fat changes its state, the less radicals will be present). This also means that butter is healthier than margarine (which is a very highly processed fat)
3 best oils for cooking
Healthier oils for cooking include palm oil and coconut oil. Note olive oil is OK for cooking, however is much better at room temperature. Therefore the top 3 healthiest oils for cooking are:
* Virgin Coconut Oil
* Extra Virgin Olive Oil
* Real Butter
Diet note:
Oils are essential for most meals, however should be eaten in moderation due to the high calorie content of oil. For those on a low-calorie diet, oil should be used sparingly. If you found this information about cooking oils beneficial, be sure to check out these 5 tips to Get a Flat Stomach faster – the natural way.