Be aware of the type of oil that you use in your cooking, that are in any foods that come in a package (i.e. processed foods), or that your favorite restaurants are using.
I can hear you. Really? Can the oils that I am using really affect my weight?
Yes, they can and not only can they affect your weight but they affect your overall health as well.
Canola oil, corn oil, grapeseed oil, soybean oil –these oils all go through a 10-step process that damages the oils. One of those steps is called “deodorization.” This step makes the oils odorless and tasteless. This creates an oil that can be used for any situation from frying foods to being used in salad dressings.
The process of deodorization also creates trans-fats. These oils can have upwards of 5% trans-fats and there is no safe level of trans-fats consumption.
Consumption of trans-fats are connected to increased risk of death from any cause. It is also connected to poor memory function in young, healthy people. And, if it affects young, healthy adults like that, what does it do to older individuals?
Also, all of these processed oils create inflammation in the body and, guess what? Being overweight is inflammation of the fat cells. Reduce inflammation and you will reduce the symptoms of inflammation which include high blood pressure, achy joints, headaches, and more!
Besides selling these oils in the grocery stores, they are also used in many processed foods including salad dressings, granola bars, many dried fruits are coated with these oils, and roasted nuts – opt for dry roasted nuts and, to avoid these oils, be sure to read the labels – not just the front of the box, but the ingredient list as well.
Restaurants use these highly processed, cheap oils because, let’s be honest, a restaurant is a business and they are going to use the least expensive oils possible to increase their profits.
So, what should you be using?
Olive oil is an oil that has been around for centuries. It is literally made by squeezing olives. Coconut oil is made by squeezing the meat of the coconut. And avocado oil is made by, you guessed it, squeezing avocadoes.
When cooking, be sure to use an oil that can tolerate the heat.
Olive oils do not stand up well to heat and, when used to cook with, can cause the inflammation that we are trying to avoid. They are great when you used in salad dressings and should be used liberally that way.
Coconut oil is great for preparing foods with low to moderate heat.
For things like stir fries which are quick and use a higher heat, opt for avocado oil.
Fat is necessary for the cell membranes to allow nutrients in and waste products out of our cells. It is also necessary for our brain health so be sure to enjoy fat consumption every day from natural sources. As Max Lugavere, author of “Genius Foods” says, “Nature does not make a bad fat. Man does.”
So make liberal use of olive, coconut, and avocado oils, enjoy fatty fishes, nuts, and seeds, and live well!
