How Healthy Is Olive Oil For Cooking

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We all know that olive oil is good for skin, hair and health over all. As compared to other oils, olive oil has monounsaturated fats,hence, it is a great oil to be consumed on a daily basis. It is a heart-friendly oil. However, there is a myth that olive oil is not suitable for everyday cooking. Many people have a question in my mind, “Is olive oil good for cooking”?

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It is very essential to know how healthy is olive oil for cooking and what are the health benefits, only then will we be able to debunk the myth. Many people have a misconception that olive oil is only good for salad dressings, steamed food or for soups and breads. They think that olive oil is not ideal for deep frying or foods that require excessive cooking.

This misunderstanding is due to the belief that the lower smoke point of olive oil makes it lose the beneficial properties and forms harmful compounds that are hazardous to health. Smoke point is the temperature at which the oil starts to degrade in the heat, producing visible smoke. This is the reason why people prefer other oils for cooking like canola oil, peanut oil or almond oil.

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However, researches have proven that this myth about olive oil is not true. This article helps you get the answer to the question, “how healthy is olive oil when cooking” and what are the benefits gained by using this.

Prevention against Heart diseases:
Blood pressure and blood cholesterol are the major reasons behind heart diseases. Cooking with Olive oil is found to lower the risk of both cholesterol and blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks. So, is olive oil good for cooking? Of course, yes.

Cancer prevention:
Olive oil has the tendency to neutralize the harmful free radicals in the body, thereby reducing the risk of cancer. This is a clear answer to the question- is it safe to cook in olive oil.

Reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes:
It has been proved that olive oil can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by almost 50% when compared to other oils used for regular cooking. It is good for a pre-diabetic to consume atleast about 2 spoons of olive oil every day in their diet. What now? Is olive oil good for cooking? Yes, it is, for sure.

Weight reduction:
Olive oil can keep you full for a longer time, hence, it is helpful for weight reduction.

Bone Health:
Olive oil is helpful in absorption of calcium. Hence, it can prevent you from osteoporosis and if you already have this disease, it can help you recover from the same.

Other benefits:
Cooking with olive oil also helps in the reduction of stress, depression, gastritis, ulcers and constipation.

If you still ask, “Is olive oil good for cooking”? The answer is a resounding 'yes'! The bottom line is that olive oil is mostly composed of monounsaturated fatty acids, which are very much resistant to heating. The polyunsaturated fats, which cause health-damage, constitute only about 11% in Olive oil, which is a tolerable limit. Also, the powerful antioxidants and Vitamin E in olive oil protect the oil from getting damaged due to high heat cooking.

Always use quality extra virgin olive oil which has very healthy fats and can retain all its beneficial properties while cooking.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.