Using Oils – Healthy versus Health Risk

Many countries around the world use oil as either a source of sustenance, an ingredient within a dressing or a substance that can be used to cook foods in; however, how do you know which oils are healthy and which ones can pose a health risk if they are consumed too often? There are many different types of oil; some of them provide us with nutrients that we require in order to maintain our body; others can cause problems within the heart. Olive Oil This type of oil can provide you with many chemicals that will lessen the risk of heart disease, breast cancer and it also has a high amount of monounsaturated fats which can lower cholesterol within the body. However, there are many saturated fats within this oil and it is not one of the oils that will provide you with a good source of Omega 3S – this means that there are other oils that are much better for your body and will not place too much saturated fat in your body. Linseed Oil Linseed oil has a much higher concentration of Omega 3 than the majority of oils; this type of oil is also very good for vegetarians. It’s believed that a regular use of linseed oil can aid in the reduction of cholesterol. One of the main disadvantages is that you cannot cook using this oil; if you attempt to use this oil to cook it can become rancid and the effects become potentially harmful – this oil can only be used within salad dressings. Rapeseed Oil Rapeseed oil is one of the healthiest oils that you can purchase; this particular oil is an excellent source of both polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. This oil also has one of the lowest concentrations of saturated fat in any oil and has approximately ten times as much Omega 3 as a regular oil such as olive oil. This type of oil is also perfect for cooking as it can be heated to very high temperatures without degrading and becoming harmful. One of the only disadvantages of this oil is that it is considered bland to the point of being tasteless – this makes it a poor choice when creating a salad dressing. Palm Oil Palm oil is not a special oil; it contains both Vitamin E and carotenes that are believed to be able to protect the body from free-radical damage. However, it is a cheap oil that does not contain much Omega 3. This type of oil is not only a poor choice in regards to your health but it is also bad for the environment; the demand for palm oil causes deforestation and the destruction of rainforests across the globe. There are many other types of oil that are used across the world and for a number of different purposes; for more information on the types of oil that are commonly used throughout the home and how they can affect you and your home you can contact us at Fogtrap. We’d be happy to help you in any way that we can.