Experts Weigh In On The Unhealthiest Cooking Oils
We tend to lump oils into two different categories: those that are good for us and those that are bad for us. We hear a lot of opinions in this regard, but experts are now weighing in to help us see which oils are good and which oils are bad for our cooking needs.
According to the New York Post, registered dietitian Trista K. Best said one of the root causes of disease in Western society is chronic, low-grade inflammation. She goes on to say that the inflammation is the result of an imbalance in different types of fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.
Best says: “Both are essential fatty acids, but omega-6 is highly inflammatory when it outnumbers omega-3’s and it is consumed in large amounts in the standard American diet.”
When the recipe allows for it, it seems to be best to choose olive oil, which has been shown to cut the risk of disease by some studies, according to Fox News. Olive oil may even help prolong your life!
Since olive oil is ranked as one of the healthiest foods for the heart because of its vitamins and antioxidants, it’s a good one to have near your table. Extra-virgin olive oil is a great choice for salad dressings.
Regular olive oil can be used for some cooking, but clarified butter or butter may also be a good choice.
Have you considered using corn oil? According to Best, it is one of the oils that has created the omega-3 to omega-6 imbalance.
She says: “This oil is relatively cheap and has a high smoke point. This makes corn oil a popular option for frying foods. Corn oil is 57 percent omega-6 and 29 percent omega-3 fatty acids, with saturated and omega-9 fats making up the rest.”
Another registered nutritionist that weighs in on the subject is Jay Cowin. He said that corn oil is surprisingly unhealthy, considering how many people use it as a go-to oil.
The New York Post reported that he said: “It’s full of polyunsaturated fatty acids like Omega-6, which can cause inflammation and liver damage. When buying cooking oils, it’s important to know and understand that we need a balance of Omega 3 and 6 fats in our diet; so consuming disproportionate amounts of either one can imbalance the system.”
You might also want to limit the amount of soybean oil you are using. According to Cowin, it is a highly refined oil that has gone through extensive processing. As a result, soybean oil is prone to becoing oxidized and it can put us at risk for disease.
Cowin goes on to speak about sunflower oil, which he calls “unhealthy because it also contains high levels of Omega-6 fatty acids.”
He goes on to point out some research from 2017 that speaks about fatty acids causing inflammation and leading to health problems, including cancer and heart disease. He also points out that sunflower oil can produce high levels of aldehyde when exposed to prolonged heat. This could lead to health risks for those that use it.
Coconut oil is perhaps the type of oil that most people look to as being healthy. That being said, it may not always be the best choice.
Michael Garrico, who is a personal fitness trainer and nutritionist, had the following to say: “Coconut oil is abundant in medium-chain fatty acids, which are more difficult for the body to convert into stored lipids. According to a study published in the journal Circulation in January 2020, coconut oil may enhance your LDL cholesterol levels, which is bad news for your heart.”
One of the most dangerous types of oil is partially hydrogenated oil. Unfortunately, it is also found in almost all types of processed foods and results in a lot of trans fat entering the diet.
He said that “These synthetic trans fats are made in an industrial procedure that involves adding hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils in order to solidify them.”
You might also want to reduce or perhaps completely eliminate palm oil from your cooking oils as well.
Garrico goes on to say “According to study, palm oil has nearly equal amounts of saturated and unsaturated fat,” he said. “There are also ethical problems about the situation.” This is in regards to the destruction of the rainforest.
There are also many other types of mixed or straight vegetable oils on the market. These may also be better avoided, according to the founder of the School of Holistic Medicine, Ava Rockwell.
As per the New York Post, she said: “They cause awful inflammation and are implicated by a famous, now-retired heart surgeon who has 1,000 bypasses under his belt. He claims that sugar and refined vegetable oils are the real cause of heart disease. They damage the arterial walls, leading to injury, causing the body to create layers of deposits to repair the damage.”