Friday, July 8, 2011

Using The Right Oil For Healthy Cooking

By Erin Song


How we cook food can be just as important as what food we eat in terms of health. For decades we have been debating on the use of oil, how to use it, how much to use, and whether it's good for us or bad. Bringing new so-called facts to the fore is each new study. What is known is that we need some fat in our diet. Choosing the right oil for cooking can help make any meal healthier.

Using Canola Oil

It was said that the heart of heart disease can be lowered by using canola oil. It is low in saturated fat, high in monounsaturated fat, as well as offering the best fatty acid composition compared to other oils.

Canola oil can be used as an ingredient in marinades, for low temperature stir frying, and to saut food. Because canola oil does not interfere with the taste due to the little flavor it has, it is good for spicy food.

Benefits of Olive Oil

With its distinct flavor and healthy attributes, olive oil is a firm favorite around the world. Olive oil reduces the risk of cancer due to the level of antioxidants and because it's rich in monounsaturated fat, it also helps lower cholesterol levels.

Olive oil can be used in cooking but is popular - and healthiest - uncooked in salad dressings and sauces.

Butter

Used for centuries, butter has a distinct taste and is of course made from natural ingredients. Butter is a source of Vitamin A and other fat-soluble vitamins such as E and K.

Most of the time, butter is also used to make bread, baking, marinades, and sauces. One of the ingredients that has made butter so unhealthy for us is salt so it's better to avoid butter that has added salt.

Benefits of Margarine

Margarine used to contain high amounts of fat which raises bad cholesterol and it was first introduced as a low fat alternative to butter. In order to contain healthy fats, the margarine on our shelves today is synthetically produced.

Sometimes, margarine can be difficult to cook with but it can still be a tasty oil.

When it comes to cooking and baking, there are many more oils that can be used. The quantity you use and the type of cooking you are doing will dictate which one is right for you. Healthy food cooked in too much oil will result in an unhealthy diet, so use oil sparingly. In order to ensure that your diet is a good one that adds to your health, different oils can be used for different purposes.




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