Unhealthy cooking oils, which can raise your body’s cholesterol to a dangerous level, or cause you to pack on the pounds, are found in almost every kitchen and supermarket. This article explores the facts about the most dangerous unhealthy cooking oils, then looks at ways to avoid these nutritional pitfalls. You’ll discover how to keep your kitchen free of unhealthy cooking oils. Plus, you’ll learn how to spot packaged foods made with unhealthy cooking oils so that you can avoid them. With the help of this article, you can say goodbye to unhealthy cooking oils, and say hello to eating well, and staying trim and vibrant.
Unhealthy Cooking Oils At The Supermarket
Steer clear of anything “partially-hydrogenated.”
Many of the unhealthy cooking oils that Americans consume each day aren’t made at home, but are processed, packaged foods bought in supermarkets. The bad news is that many of the most popular foods are made with unhealthy cooking oils. The good news is that it’s easy to tell which packaged foods contain unhealthy cooking oils. Just look for this watchword on the ingredients list: “partially-hydrogenated.” Partially hydrogenated cooking oils are the highest in trans fat, which means that they’re the most dangerous unhealthy cooking oils in the marketplace. It’s not always easy to shop without bringing home some unhealthy cooking oils in the process, but it may be easier tomorrow than it is today. Some companies are starting to respond to customer pressure and are pledging to find substitutes for unhealthy cooking oils, so if your favorite foods contain unhealthy cooking oils, let the manufacturer know how you feel.
Unhealthy Cooking Oils At Home
How to free your cupboards of the most dangerous oils
Unfortunately, many of the most unhealthy cooking oils are also very popular. There may even be some in your kitchen right now! The most unhealthy cooking oils are coconut oil, palm or palm kernal oil, cottonseed oil, and peanut oil. At least 17% of the fats found in each of these oils are saturated fats, and some (like palm kernal oil) go as high as 86% saturated. A diet high in saturated fats is a leading cause of dangerously elevated cholesterol, so if you’re using one or more of these unhealthy cooking oils on a regular basis, you may be heading for cholesterol problems. Saturated fats are also a major cause of obesity. Including a low level of saturated fats in your diet isn’t necessarily unhealthy, but nutritional experts suggest that saturated fats should make up 10% or less of your daily calories. Instead of using unhealthy cooking oils high in saturated fats, consider choosing a healthy substitute like canola, safflower, or olive oil instead. With just a few changes in your routine, you can get out of the habit of using unhealthy cooking oils, and into the habit of doing what’s best for your body.
Reference:
- Nutristrategy.com offers a comprehensive table of the saturated and unsaurated fat content of popular oils.
