Advertisers and marketers are clever,
tricking millions of people into buying and consuming cooking oils
because of their low fat content. But the truth is, many “heart-healthy”
cooking oils are bad for other aspects of your health and/or are made
with genetically-modified and processed ingredients. So what cooking
oils are the best to use? You want an oil that is made with natural
ingredients; check the nutrition label for words you can pronounce.
These three cooking oils are some of the best available:
- Coconut oil: Raw virgin coconut oil often turns
people away because it has the consistency of a paste rather than a
liquid. However, coconut oil is a very healthy cooking oil that gives
food a delightful tropical note (which can be masked by bolder flavors
if desired). How healthy is it? The purest forms of coconut oil are
linked to weight loss, heart health, increased metabolism and healthy
skin. Though best used for low-heat cooking or baking, refined coconut
oil has a higher smoke point that can handle hotter temperatures, albeit
with fewer health benefits.
- Olive oil: Extra virgin olive oil (first cold
pressed) contains healthy fats and antioxidants, which gives it
anti-inflammatory properties. First cold pressed simply means that the
olives are pressed exactly one time, at a temperature no higher than 86
degrees, to extract the purest and best quality oil from the fruit.
Olive oil is best for low-heat cooking, making it a great choice for
salad dressings and drizzling over pasta and other favorite dishes.
- Avocado oil: Avocado oil—though higher in
polyunsaturated fats (PUFA), which can lead to inflammation if consumed
in excess—is a healthy choice when used sparingly. It complements olive
oil and coconut oil nicely because its higher smoke point makes it a
better choice for frying and other high-heat cooking methods. If you
tend to use this oil more often, you may want to purchase a brand that
offers avocado oil with low PUFA content for an even healthier
experience.
Learn more about how you can stay healthy. Call us at
813-933-6691 for more information on
Tampa health insurance.
