There are several varieties of cooking oils, all made from various ingredients
or different processes. Different cooking oils often tout health benefits
of all kinds, but it’s not just marketing. The diverse ingredients
that make up cooking oils change the way they affect our bodies.
They differ in the kinds of fats they contain, their “smoke point”
(how hot they can get before breaking down into harmful chemicals), and
their distinct advantages. The best part is that these oils possess different
health and cooking benefits, so having some or all of them in your cupboard
might be a good investment.
Olive Oil: Healthiest for Your Heart
Olive oil is made from pressed olives, and no heat or chemical treatment
is involved in its creation. As a result, it has a delicious taste both
in cooking and raw on salads or bread. It is filled with anti-oxidants
and mono-unsaturated fats, which health experts believe to be the best
type of fat for heart health. Because it contains a large amount of mono-unsaturated
fats, it decreases bad cholesterol while increasing healthy cholesterol.
Olive oil has a low smoke point
Grapeseed Oil: Good Source of Omega-6 Fatty Acids
Made from pressed grape seeds, this oil is produced after the pulp from
crushes seeds is pressed through a filter. Because it has a high smoke
point, grapeseed oil is often used for frying and other high-temperature
cooking. It has a very mild, neutral flavor and light color, so it can
also be used for light dressings. Grapeseed oil’s chief health benefit
come from its abundance of omega-6 fatty acids, a crucial chemical that
the body does not produce on its own. It also contains a large amount
of unsaturated fats, which are good for heart and circulatory health.
Vegetable Oil: Healthy Benefits Apart From the Heart
Vegetable oil has the highest smoke point and most neutral taste of any
oil on this list. That makes it ideal for high-temperature cooking such
as pan-frying, deep-frying, or roasting. Vegetable oil was once made from
various vegetable extraction, treating vegetables to retrieve the “oils”
from them, but now it is usually made solely from soybeans. Vegetable
oil has multiple health benefits—it’s high in omega-3 fatty
acids, which is the other fatty acid chemical the body needs to function.
The oil has been shown to help lower high blood pressure and control diabetes.
Coconut Oil: A Different Kind of Saturated Fat
Coconut oil, as the name implies, is made from the flesh of coconuts. While
most oils are fluids at room temperature, coconut oil is normally solid
and buttery when not being cooked. As a result, coconut oil has recently
become popular among vegans as a good substitute for butter, particularly
for baking. It has a medium to low smoke point, so light cooking or baking
is suitable, but nothing aggressively hot.
Coconut oil used to have a poor reputation because it is made of 90% saturated
fats. However, recent studies have indicated that the type of saturated
fat that coconut oil possesses is beneficial! It provides a great deal
of immediate, quick-release energy while boosting the metabolism. Overall,
it helps support the function of the thyroid gland and promotes healthy
weight loss.
Regardless of the oils you use, moderation and customizing to your diet
is key to long-term health. Use different oils in different recipes—their
strengths in cooking correspond to their health benefits. Keep in mind
their differing advantages and smoke points, and enjoy!
This article contains general information about medical conditions and
treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as
such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis
of a physician.
If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should
consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.