1. Sesame
Oil
Sesame oil is ideal for frying and sautéing because it can
handle high temperatures without breaking down. It also imparts a wonderful
flavor that can really make your favorite dishes pop. This tasty oil isn't just
for cooking though. It is also great in salad dressings. Makes me hungry just
thinking about it…
In addition to its value in cooking, sesame oil has
numerous health benefits as well. It is made up of monounsaturated and
poly-unsaturated fats, which means it may lower your LDL cholesterol. It is also
very high in antioxidants and vitamin E and is a powerful anti-inflammatory.
Studies have shown sesame oil may actually lower blood pressure and blood sugar
levels. There is also evidence that it could inhibit cancer cell growth.
Oh, and did I mention it
also helps you lose flab? That's right. In one study, researchers noted "a
significant reduction was noted in body weight and body mass index (BMI)" when
study participants used sesame oil in place of all other cooking oils and they
believed this was due to the poly-unsaturated fatty acids, which increased the
“satiety” hormone leptin in the blood.
2. Avocado Oil or
Grapeseed Oil
Avocado oil, surprisingly, comes from the actual
avocado flesh and not the seed. Like sesame oil, it is great for sautéing and
salad dressings. It has an unusually high heat tolerance so you don't have to
worry about it going rancid while you cook. And because it is more than 50
percent monounsaturated fat, it is great for your heart as well.iv It may also protect your cells from
cancer-causing free radicals.
Grapeseed oil is wonderful
drizzled over a salad or veggies and is good for sautéing and baking. In
addition, it is a potent antioxidant. It is rich in vitamin E, flavonoids and
linoleic acid. Because it is high in poly-unsaturated fats, it may also help to
prevent diabetes.
3. Grass-Fed Butter
Okay, this
isn't exactly an oil. Please, through out that nasty margarine and let
grass-fed butter make a healthy and tasty alternative.
Butter contains
lecithin, which helps your body metabolize cholesterol. It is also rich in
antioxidants such as vitamins A and E. Grass-fed butter, in particular, is also
a good source of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), the fat-fighting oil which is
also known to be heart healthy and inhibit cancer-causing substances and belly
fat. Really… eating
real butter made from the milk of cows that are allowed to roam free on pasture
and eat grass can help you lose belly fat.
So what makes grass-fed butter
so much better than regular old butter? Well that's easy. When cows are fed
their natural diet, they are healthier. Healthier cows produce healthier milk
that’s richer in natural super-nutrients like CLA. Which means healthier milk
products like grass-fed butter. So you can feel like you're indulging, but
really you are taking care of your body. It doesn't get much better than
that.
4. Coconut Oil
We've discussed coconut oil
before. It is a very stable oil that can handle high-heat cooking and it is
great for your heart because it can help lower LDL cholesterol. It also contains
lauric acid, which converts to monolaurin -- a fatty acid that helps you fight
off viruses and infections.
Perhaps best of all,
coconut oil is also shown to help with weight loss. This makes it a great
addition to your collection of cooking oils. It is ideal for baking and
offers an amazing, tropical flavor, too.
5. Macadamia Nut
Oil
Macadamia nut oil is very high in monounsaturated fatty
acids and is also antioxidant rich. It is also a very stable oil that does not
easily oxidize when heated, so like the other oils mentioned, it is great to
cook with. And if you have ever tasted a macadamia nut, you have to know it is
going to impart some wonderful flavor to your meals. That said, the flavor is
light enough to not overpower other foods. I use this oil to cook eggs all the
time.
This oil has been found to improve cholesterol levels and even
contribute to weight loss. It
also has an ideal balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. This balance is
important to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, autoimmune disease,
cancer and inflammatory diseases.
A special thanks to Coach Josh!
Nothing in these statements is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.