We all want a long and healthy life, and the simple way to make this more likely is to exercise regularly and eat well. That means having a balanced diet which supplies us with all the vitamins and minerals we need, but it also means being careful about what we use to cook and prepare the food in.
Which Cooking Oils Are the Best Sources of Healthy Fats?
The simple fact is that not all cooking oils are the same, so switching to a healthier cooking oil option can make a real difference to how you feel. That’s why we’ve put together this handy guide to four cooking oils, which are great sources of healthy fats.
Olive Oil
Olives are the original superfood because they’re just packed full of energy-boosting nutrients. This is why they form an integral part of the Mediterranean diet, which has been shown to be so good for our heart and general health. Of course, olives aren’t just good for putting on pizzas or eating as a side dish, they also make the very best cooking oil. Olive oil is rich in Omega-3 acid, which is good for our heart, and it’s very versatile too. So tasty is olive oil, especially in its extra virgin varieties, that it
can not only be used for cooking with, but you can also drizzle it on salads and bread to enhance their flavor.
Coconut Oil
One of the interesting facts about vegetable oil in many of the mass-produced varieties we find on our shelves today is that they contain high levels of polyunsaturated fats, but our body actually needs good fat in order to produce hormones and generate energy. That’s why some natural cooking oils such as coconut oil are a much healthier option than you might imagine. It does have a higher saturated fat content than many other oils, but as we’ve seen, the body does actually need some saturated fats, and many scientists consider saturated fats in coconut oil to be easier for the body to process than those in animal fat products such as lard.
Flaxseed Oil
Flaxseed is an increasingly popular crop, largely because of the increase in the use of flaxseed oil for cooking purposes. Like olive oil, it has a high Omega-3 content, and this can be a very important addition to the diet as it’s something that the human body is incapable of generating itself. These fatty acids are known for their natural healing properties, helping to reduce inflammation. This makes it an ideal oil to use for people who have joint problems or long-term inflammatory conditions such as osteoarthritis.
Avocado Oil
Avocado is rapidly turning into the world’s favorite fruit, and there are few better ways to start the day than avocado on toast. The oil of the avocado is very versatile and can be used for frying, sautéing, deep frying or stir-frying, and because it can withstand high temperatures, you won’t have to worry about smoke filling your kitchen whilst using it.
Even more importantly, it’s an oil that’s rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, and this helps the body to enhance the nutrients it needs more easily, as well as helping to maintain a normal cholesterol level.
Choosing the right cooking oil can help normalize cholesterol readings, reduce inflammation and promote the uptake of the nutrients we need to operate on an optimal level. Olive, flaxseed, avocado, and coconut all have positive properties, but you can also add many nut oils to that list, from which we’d recommend walnut oil because of the tangy flavor it can add to your dishes. In general, the more natural and pure cooking oil is, the better it is; avoid mass-produced oils that are a blend from various sources, and try to cut down or eliminate the use of animal fats.
