Selecting The Right Cooking Oil for Your Dish for Better Health

Obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes have all increased significantly in the last century or so. In such a short time, genetics has not changed much. Instead, the rise in diseases is largely due to lifestyle factors such as dietary choices.

Data also show that one of the most considerable dietary changes in the last century was the choice of dietary fat sources in various parts of the world. We are now even more reliant on plant oils than we were previously.

Only in some parts of the world, such as the Mediterranean, do people continue to consume plant oil as part of their traditional diet. It could explain why that region has a lower prevalence of obesity and metabolic disorders.

Plant oils are not all created equal

According to studies, the prevalence of metabolic disorders is unusually high in areas where people have switched to vegetable oils that were not previously consumed, such as soybean oil, sunflower oil, and peanut oil.

Researchers believe that we evolved to consume equal amounts of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. However, omega-6 levels in the modern western diet are 15 to 20 times higher than omega-3 levels. It is particularly deficient in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid).

As a solution, we could include more omega-3-rich plant oils like flaxseed oil, canola oil, and extra virgin olive oil.

Linoleic acid, a major offender

Recently, researchers discovered that certain plant-based oils cause more obesity than saturated fats such as lard. So, what could the cause be? They discovered that it was due to the high linoleic acid content of vegetable oils. Linoleic acid causes more obesity than saturated fats and is the leading cause of metabolic disorders.

However, linoleic acid should not be confused with alpha-linolenic acid, which is an omega-3 fatty acid that is beneficial to health.

Peanut oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, and corn oil are all high in linoleic acid, according to a study of vegetable oils. As a result, despite their low saturated fat content, they cause obesity, metabolic disorders, and low-level inflammation.

Extra virgin olive oil is preferable & how it fits into our diets better

Although much has been written about extra virgin olive oil and its health benefits, it appears that most authors have overlooked the most important point. Unlike most vegetable oils, extra virgin olive oil is an ancient staple that has withstood the test of time as a minimally processed, highly heat-stable plant oil.

EVOO has the lowest linoleic acid content of any plant oil, making it ideal for weight loss. It explains why plant oils with higher omega-3 content than olive oil are still inferior. EVOO is also high in EPA and DHA, the two most important fatty acids.

Finally, the polyphenols in EVOO, with their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, may lower your risk of cardiovascular disease and improve bone and digestive health. Hence, extra virgin olive oil is the healthiest and most beneficial plant oil to use in cooking as much as possible.

Try using EVOO for your home cooking as much as possible today for better health and graceful aging.