Which oils are healthy for my heart?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Your first instinct might be to assume that all oils are unhealthy, but that’s not the case, since many oils are good sources of monounsaturated fats, the kind found in heart-healthy foods such as nuts, olives, and avocados. In fact, 25% to 35% of your daily calories should come from fats, including those found in oils.
But not all oils are created equal. Choose oils that are lower in saturated fat, including olive oil (a particularly good because of its very high percentage of monounsaturated fat), canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil (great for stir-frying because of its high smoke point), safflower oil, sesame oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil. Avoid oils, such as coconut oil and palm oil, that are high in saturated fat. And remember: At around 120 calories per tablespoon, oils are still high in calories, so the saying "everything in moderation" applies.
Avoid foods that contain hydrogenated oils, also known as trans fats.Helpful? 5 people found this helpfulYour first instinct might be to assume that all oils are unhealthy, but that’s not the case, since many oils are good sources of monounsaturated fats, the kind found in heart-healthy foods such as nuts, olives, and avocados. In fact, 25% to... More -
Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:Fat is an essential nutrient needed to help our bodies function properly. The key is to maintain a level of fat intake that our body needs without going overboard. Too much fat in the diet can lead to high cholesterol, increased risk for heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Mono- and polyunsaturated fats are found in oils such as canola, olive, peanut, safflower, sunflower, corn, soybean, sesame and cottonseed and can help lower blood cholesterol levels as part of an overall low-fat diet.
Helpful? 3 people found this helpfulFat is an essential nutrient needed to help our bodies function properly. The key is to maintain a level of fat intake that our body needs without going overboard. Too much fat in the diet can lead to high cholesterol, increased risk for heart... More
