Best and Worst Cooking Oils For Your Heart..

Not all cooking oils are created equal. Choosing an oil rich in unsaturated fats is essential in supporting your heart health. Cooking with these oils can help lower your risk of heart attack and death from heart disease.

The Healthiest Cooking Oils

Whether you’re sautéing up some veggies for a stir fry or browning a piece of veggie or fish, it’s important and also consider the smoke point of your oil. The smoke point refers to the temperature at which it starts to burn and smoke. When oil reaches that temperature and you consume it, not only do you receive an unpleasant burnt taste, you also destroy beneficial nutrients.

Here are few heart-healthy cooking oils that tolerate high heat cooking & healthy for your heart

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Olive oil is one of the healthiest options when considering which oil is best for a heart patient. It’s packed with antioxidants that can improve circulation, promote a healthy gut, boost your immune system and reduce inflammation. Reach for extra virgin olive oil because it contains more antioxidants than refined olive oil.

Avocado Oil
Avocado oil is perfect for making dips, marinades and dressings and is an excellent option when sautéing something because of its high smoke point at 520 degrees. It’s packed with monounsaturated fats and has a neutral, avocado-like taste. Some studies suggest that avocado oil may have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and heart health benefits.

Safflower oil
High in unsaturated fatty acids and has a high smoke point. A study found that incorporating this oil into your diet can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.

Sesame Oil
Sesame oil has a lower smoke point than the others but it still should be added to your list of heart-healthy oils. It’s high in sesamol and sesaminol, which are antioxidants shown to reduce heart cell damage. You can use sesame oil to saute your favorite vegetables, as a salad dressing ingredient and most general-purpose cooking. The flavor profile is more intense and nutty than the other oils, so keep that in mind when cooking.

The Worst Cooking Oils

Some of the assumed “healthiest cooking oils” in actuality are not that great for you including:

Canola oil
Palm oil
Vegetable oil
Soybean oil
Sunflower oil
Coconut oil
Margarine
Shortening & Butter