Oil: Health Food Or Junk Food?

Oil is one of the first ingredients you see when looking at a recipe. Olive, sunflower, canola, coconut, sesame, peanut, walnut, the list is endless.

These days you will see heart healthy margarine spreads made with extra-virgin olive oil and even junk foods like crisps donning a little logo saying, "Made with high-oleic sunflower oil". It's correct, oil has become a 'health' food.

Claims are made that olive oil reduces the risk of heart disease, aids digestion and has anti-aging proporities. It reduces the 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and boosts the 'good' cholesterol (HDL). Some suggest coconut oil helps weight loss and also boost metabolism.

What's the real deal though?

Well, popular to mainstream belief these oils aren't all they're cracked up to be, especially when trying to combat the biggest killer in America and the UK, heart disease.

The NHS states:

"Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the UK's biggest killer, causing around 82,000 deaths each year. About one in five men and one in eight women die from the disease".

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Coronary-heart-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx

 

Watch these two videos to understand the facts about oils.

 

Caldwell Esselstyn Jr MD of Cleveland Clinic has shown heart disease can be reversed 100% of the time, using a plant-based diet. Olive oil -- and ANY oil -- increases heart disease, the same way butter does. Looks pretty healthy and lean for an 80 year doesn't he?! 

 

 

 Jeff Novick. OIL TO NUTS.

 

Now, I'm not completely against the consumption of oils. For me if you're going to consume oils I recommend not heating them as some burn at low temperatures and can turn into trans fat (not good!). If you fancy drizzling a small amount onto your salad every so often, feel free. Make sure it's a good quality cold-pressed oil as most of the shop bought ones are refined which filters out nutrients and flavour. Oils are most beneficial when used externally. For example, coconut oil is great for moisturising the hair and skin.

 

If you are trying to lose weight I'd would definately cut out oils. Every gram of fat (no matter what source it comes from) holds 9 calories. One tablespoon of olive oil contains 120 calories! Vice versa, a gram of carbohydrate only has 4 calories, less than half the calories in any fat.

 

How to cook without oil

 

* Use water or vegetable stock to saute or fry. Keep a glass of water on hand in case you need to add more.

 

* When roasting vegetables or potatoes in the oven I like to use lemon juice which adds great flavour and is fat-free.

 

For more oil-free cooking tips check out this site:

http://engine2diet.com/the-daily-beet/guest-post-cooking-without-oil-by-cathy-fisher