In your quest to live a healthier lifestyle, it's not just about eliminating processed foods and soft drinks. You'll also need to change how you cook your meals. One way to do this is to prepare your food with healthy oils. Partially hydrogenated oils are not the best for your body, which is predominantly found in vegetable oils. Vegetable oils are devoid of the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to keep our bodies strong and healthy. Here are some of the most beneficial oils to add to your recipes.
Olive Oil
There are several reasons why you should consider olive oil as a primary cooking oil in your pantry. Olive oil is high in the monounsaturated fat called oleic acid, and this fat can reduce inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular disease. This oil also contains antioxidants that could help decrease type 2 diabetes. You can use olive oil in pasta dishes, fish dishes, soups, casseroles, and salads.
Avocado Oil
We often hear a lot about olive oil and coconut oil's health benefits, but avocado oil is also one of the healthiest oils to cook with. It helps reduce the bad cholesterol in your body, and it contains lutein, an antioxidant that is excellent for improving eye health. Certain nutrients require fats to absorb in your body well, and fruits and vegetables are examples of this. When you use avocado oil for cooking vegetables, you make the nutrients in those vegetables easier to travel through your body. There have also been studies that show how this oil is beneficial in preventing gum disease.
Butter
Are you surprised that butter is on this list? It is probably because you've been told that butter is bad for your health for so many years. However, butter does have some health benefits. Don't confuse real butter with fake versions of it, such as margarine and certain butter substitute brands. Our bodies need some cholesterol in order to operate well, but we shouldn't consume too much butter just because it provides the cholesterol we need. Butter contains the following vitamins:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin K
If you want to improve your meals' flavor, try combining butter with olive or avocado oil.