The Best Cooking Oils for Your Health

1. The Best Cooking Oils for Your Health

2. Introduction • In India, the oil you use usually in your kitchen is largely dependent on the region where you come from. • Different cultures eat differently and the type of oil, like in Kerala, it's the coconut oil, where as in Andhra and Rajasthan, it's the sesame oil, etc. • But recently all such tradition has been changed because of the scare of cholesterol and heart disease. • Before fixing an oil as the best cooking oil for health you would really want to know the following properties that each oil possess.

3. Sunflower Oil • The oil extracted from the seeds of sunflowers is known as sunflower oil. It has a high quantity of vitamin E, which makes it excellent for being used in and cosmetic products. • Sunflower oil is a mixture of monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids. • It has a high smoking point, which means that sunflower oil holds onto its nutritional content at higher temperatures, which is probably why this oil is widely used in deep frying chips, samosas and vegetables. • People with diabetes may need to be careful about sunflower oil as it may lead to the possibility of increasing sugar levels.

4. Coconut Oil • This oil is full of saturated fat. • Studies suggest that diets high in coconut oil do raise total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. • Coconut oil also seems to raise HDL (good) cholesterol and it has the advantage that it behaves very well at high temperatures.

5. Groundnut Oil • Groundnut oil or peanut oil is got a good combination of fats, and has the good monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and is low in bad saturated fats. • It's a good all-purpose oil for cooking and I think it works particularly well for Asian foods that are prepared in the wok.

6. Mustard Oil • Has a near ideal fat composition but not very good as it contains high amounts of erucic acid ranging from 35 to 48%. • It is recommended that you don't use mustard oil as the sole cooking medium. It has a high smoking point so it's very good for deep frying.

7. Canola Oil • A recent entrant into the Indian market, Canola is flying off the shelves. Canola oil, which is made from the crushed seeds of the canola plant, is said to be amongst the healthiest of cooking oils. • It has the lowest saturated fat content of any oil. • It's seen as a healthy alternative as its rich in monounsaturated fats and is high in Omega 3. • It has a medium smoking point and is an oil that works well for fries, baking, sautéing etc. • I use it liberally in Indian food, which it seems to embrace quite well.

8. Olive Oil • If you use Olive oil regularly, you are consuming monounsaturated fats that will help you lower your risk of heart disease and breast cancer, and that's possibly because of its high monounsaturated fat content, which lowers cholesterol. • I find olive oil brilliant for any Mediterranean dish, brilliant with pastas and risottos, and it's my top pick for breakfasts, works like a dream with eggs, pancakes, you name it.

9. Conclusion • Nowadays, many oil manufacturers are there to provide the healthiest cooking oil in Chennai . • But when it comes to cooking, there is an important thing to be remembered, that is every oil behaves differently when it is heated. • Therefore make sure that you choose the oil which fits perfectly into the food landscape of the region you live.