WELLNESS WEDNESDAY | What’s the healthiest oils to cook with?

Hi guys, so the other day I asked myself, ” Was my change from canola oil to grapeseed oil the right change”?  I thought grapeseed oil was supposed to be better and healthier for you but I started questioning my choice.  I didn’t do much too much research on grapeseed oil, I just knew canola oil was really bad for you so I needed to eliminate it from my kitchen right away.

So the other day I started to do some research and here’s what I found.

Grapeseed oil is advertised to be healthier and better for you because:

• It contains a high amount of vitamin E
• It is non-hydrogenated and contains no trans fat
• It has no cholesterol and very minimal saturated fats
• It has a high smoke point
• It has a high concentration of omega-6 polyunsaturated fat (PUFA), which is supposed to be good for your heart

 

Well guess what?  First of all, the last thing on that list is the very thing that makes this oil not that great for you.  Grapeseed oil is over 70% PUFA which is absolutely way too much for your body.  When you have that much PUFA added to your diet it becomes toxic!  Now that definitely scares me enough to now be on the hunt for another oil to use for cooking and baking.

So after an extensive research, I have discovered that olive oil, coconut oil, and avocado oil are probably the best 3 oils to cook or bake with.  Along with these oils, I also discovered that ghee or very high quality grass fed butter is actually very beneficial to cook with as well.

 

 

Olive oil is a heart healthy fat that contains antioxidants that are very beneficial to your health and also contain anti-inflammatory properties as well.   Make sure you buy the best olive oil possible and make sure it is not mixed with any other kinds of oils.  The smoke point for olive oil isn’t very high which does not make it good for frying.

Coconut oil has been talked about for years now and it is not only used for cooking.  People use it for everything it seems.  But for cooking purposes it not only adds a nice flavor but it has been said to help with weight loss, support heart health, boost your metabolism, and improve your skin.  Virgin coconut oil has a lower smoke point but has the most benefits.  If cooking at a higher temperature or you don’t like that slight coconut taste in your food use refined coconut oil.

Avocado oil is something i’ve been contemplating about trying for months.  I’ve seen it on the shelves at the market, i’ve seen it on peoples food blogs but not until now did I actually try it.  Its the perfect oil to fry with because of its high smoke point.  Avocado oil does contain a high amount of omega-6 as well, and in excess it can cause inflammation but it is a good oil to use when frying at higher temperatures.

Ghee is something that is also new to me.  For a long time I didn’t even know that it was a form of butter but with the milk solids removed.  It is a little on the expensive side but it is good for people that have a dairy sensitivity and it does have some really good benefits for your health.  Ghee is filled with vitamins A, D, and K12.  It is also high in CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) which is the fatty acid found in most grass fed animals that protect against cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

High quality Grass Fed Butter is actually good for you, in moderation of course.  Our bodies need dietary cholesterol to function, so a little butter or even eggs is actually good for your body and brain.  Grass fed butter is more readily available and a little less expensive then ghee.  You have to make sure you are buying a good high quality grass fed butter such as Kerrygold,  Organic Valley, or Organic Pastures.  Kerrygold is very affordable and can be found at Costco or Trader Joes!

I hope this helped out with anyone wandering the same thing I was about oil.  Does anyone have any other tips or facts about oils they use or oils that are better for you?

xoxo-k10