Choosing healthy oils such as canola or olive oil has been promoted by the American Heart Association for many years. Olive oil in particular is high in monounsaturated fat, which can play a role in controlling cholesterol levels and lowering risks of cardiovascular disease. A new study in France looked at 7625 participants and their consumption of olive oil. Some participants never used olive oil, others used it occasionally, while the final group used it often. Researchers followed participants for 5 years and found that those who used olive oil often were 41% less likely to suffer from a stroke when compared to participants who never used it.
The idea here is
not to simply drop everything and change your entire cooking style! The important point to consider would be replacing unhealthy fats with healthier options that promote heart health. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats have shown to play a role in controlling cholesterol levels and can be found in foods and oils such as:
- Olive oil; Canola oil; Vegetable oil; Flax oil
- Nut oils (e.g. peanut oil)
- Nuts (e.g. almonds, walnuts)
- Seeds (e.g. sunflower seeds)
- Avocados
- Fatty fish (e.g. mackerel, salmon, herring)
- Poultry
Using healthier oils for cooking and choosing fat sources with mono or poly-unsaturated fats will help you promote heart health and decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. For more information about healthy fats, speak to your dietitian or physician.
Information Sources:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/videos/news/oil_well_061611.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/fat/NU00262/NSECTIONGROUP=2
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Polyunsaturated-Fats_UCM_301461_Article.jsp
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