There are so many different cooking oils. It can be difficult to know which one is the best to use, based on different recipes or health goals. Some of the most popular cooking oils are olive oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, and more.
In recent years, many believe coconut oil is one of the healthiest. Now experts are saying that coconut oil actually has a high percentage of saturated fat, which is not the best for you if you eat a lot of it. Too much saturated fat can produce cholesterol and high cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease.
Which cooking oil is the healthiest?
Turns out that extra virgin olive oil is your best bet if you want to cook with a healthier oil. According to BBC, “One observational study associated replacing saturated fat with olive oil, for example, with a lower risk of heart disease. Substituting butter, margarine, mayonnaise, or dairy fat with olive oil reduced the risk by 5 to 7%.”
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Extra virgin olive oil also contains monounsaturated fatty acids which are very good for you. It also contains antioxidants and vitamin E. Experts say that it is extra beneficial if it is not cooked, but it can also have benefits while heated.
The key is to replace other oils with extra virgin olive oil, not to add a bunch into your diet. You don’t need to add lots of it to get the health benefits. If you add a lot to your diet, it will likely just add in unnecessary calories. So, keep that in mind if you are trying to lose weight.
What kind of cooking oil do you use? Which kind did you believe was the healthiest? In conclusion, learn more about healthy cooking oils from the American Heart Association: