The impact your choice of cooking oil has on your heart health cannot be underestimated. In recent years, as people's awareness of healthy eating has increased, choosing the right cooking oil has become a pursuit of many families. The diverse choice of cooking oil not only affects the taste of the dishes, but also has a direct relationship with our physical health. So, how do you choose the healthiest cooking oil?
Cooking oil is liquid fat from plants or animals, and is widely used in various cooking methods such as frying and baking. Choosing the right oil can improve cooking efficiency and add flavor to your food.
Whether it is vegetable oil or animal oil, dietary fat has an important impact on health. According to research, high intake of saturated fatty acids is significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Therefore, choosing oils that are lower in saturated fat and higher in unsaturated fat is considered a healthier choice.
Some medical institutions, such as the Mayo Clinic in the United States, have emphasized that the intake of saturated fat should be reduced and healthier oils such as olive oil, peanut oil and rapeseed oil should be chosen.
Compared to other types of dietary fats, trans fats are not essential to the human body and can affect your health. Several large studies have shown the risks of high trans fat intake, primarily an increased likelihood of coronary heart disease. Therefore, many health organizations recommend limiting the intake of trans fats.
How to use cooking oilWhen cooking, it is very important to choose the right oil to match the cooking temperature. Different oils have different heat resistance. Excessively high temperatures can cause the oil to oxidize and decompose, thereby releasing harmful substances. Changing your grease regularly is also an essential step to keeping your cooking oil healthy.
Good quality cooking oils should have a high smoke point and be suitable for high temperature stir-frying, such as alligator oil, peanut oil and olive oil.
All oils and fats will deteriorate under the influence of heat, light and oxygen. The choice of container and environment in which the oil is stored can also have an impact on the life of the oil. Refined oils will keep well at room temperature, but they need to be kept away from direct sunlight and high temperatures.
Cold-pressed oil is extracted mechanically at low temperatures, which can retain its natural nutrients and flavor; while refined oil goes through more processes and may lose some beneficial ingredients. Therefore, when choosing oil, cold-pressed oil is usually a better choice.
Once eaten, grease should be properly disposed of and not discharged into the sewer at will to avoid environmental pollution. The correct way to dispose of it is to place it in a sealed non-recyclable container and throw it away with the general trash.
Cooking oil can actually be recycled into products such as animal feed and soap. Recycling not only reduces waste but also creates new value.
No matter what, choosing healthy cooking oils not only improves the quality of your diet, it also has an important impact on your heart health. So, how do you choose the cooking oil that best suits your needs?