You might be surprised to learn that not all cooking oils are created
equal, especially if you are trying to get rid of that belly. Like many
of us, you probably grab a spray can of oil or whatever bottle of
cooking oil is on sale, or rely on the kind your mom used to use.
I’m going to let you in on a secret, though. The type of oil you
choose really does matter. And if the oil you depend on is yellow and is
sold in big, gallon-size jugs… this is probably the last type of oil
you should be using for your health.
Today we’ll take a look at five oils you should most definitely avoid if you want to be healthy and have a flat stomach.
1. Margarine
Okay, it’s not actually an oil. But it is made from “vegetable oils”
(soybean oil, corn oil, canola oil) that are unhealthy, which we’ll talk
about in a bit, as well as (often) added man-made trans fat, which
helps it stay in a solid form. Synthetic trans fat (as opposed to the
naturally occurring trans fats found in some meat and dairy products) is
probably the worst fat you can eat. It raises your LDL (“bad”)
cholesterol and lowers your HDL (“good”) cholesterol, which increases
your risk of heart disease.
Now, there are so-called trans-fat-free margarines available, but
these are really no healthier than their trans fatty cousins. In these
margarines, the trans fat is replaced with
another chemically
constructed fat that may increase blood sugar and insulin resistance.
Not only that, but it still lowers HDL and increases LDL, so not only
are you increasing your risk of heart disease but you’re also increasing
your risk of diabetes and weight gain!
1,2
And another little tidbit you may not be aware of: The labels “trans
fat free” and “zero trans fat” are a bit misleading. Manufacturers can
have 0.5 grams of trans fat per serving and still claim to have no trans
fat.
3 While this is a very small amount, it all adds up, especially since health experts agree there is no safe level of trans fats.
The bottom line is there is nothing nutritionally useful in
margarine. It is a man-made, highly processed chemical spread that can
lead to serious health issues.
2. Soybean Oil
Soybean oil is also known typically as vegetable oil. Yup. The same
stuff that margarine is made from. Soybean oil is very high in linoleic
acid, which is also known as omega-6 fatty acid. Now, omega-6 fatty
acids are needed by your body. In fact, they are essential for proper
brain function, regulated metabolism, bone health and more. However, we
need a balance of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for optimal health.
Today’s typical diet gives us a major
imbalance in these
essential fatty acids. We don’t get enough omega-3 (the kind found in
fatty fish and fish oil) and we get way too much omega-6 (due to the
vegetable oil and soybean oil that’s added to virtually every processed
food). This imbalance can contribute to obesity as well as various other
serious health issues.
4
Soybean oil is also very unstable and goes rancid quickly. Rancid
oils form free radicals that, as you may know, can lead to cancer,
accelerated aging and other diseases.
When you heat soybean oil, it goes rancid even faster. It simply
cannot withstand the heat used in your cooking (and many soybean oils
may be rancid before you even begin cooking, due to heat and light
exposure during storage and transport).
And if all that isn’t enough to convince you that soybean oil should
be a no-no in your kitchen, consider the fact that almost all soybeans
are now genetically modified. Genetically modified soy is linked to
fertility problems, allergies, and more.
5
3. Canola Oil
Like soybean oil, canola oil is typically genetically modified. It
has also been linked to vitamin E deficiency and heart problems.
6,7
There is a great deal of controversy over canola oil because it was
originally derived from rapeseed, which is very high in erucic acid, a
compound linked to heart damage. Today’s canola oil contains much lower
amounts of erucic acid, but it hasn’t been eliminated.
Note that canola oil was originally intended as an industrial
lubricant. It is highly processed and contains trans fats, like
margarine. It’s also easily damaged by heat… so definitely not a good
choice for your stir-fry.
4. Corn Oil
Corn oil is popular for cooking and is probably the most popular of
oils for frying. But that doesn’t mean it is healthy. Like soybean oil,
corn oil also has far more omega-6 fats than omega-3 fats, contributing
to the imbalance that so many people face today.
And corn oil, like other “vegetable oils,” is not as stable as you’d
like to think. It goes rancid fairly quickly on the shelf and even
faster in the frying pan. While it may last longer than soy and canola
oils, depending on how long it sat on the store shelf before it made its
way to your kitchen, it may be rancid before you even buy it. Not to
mention, most corn is genetically modified to produce a built-in
pesticide that splits open insects’ stomachs when they eat it – which
you then get to eat when the corn is harvested and processed. Yummy!
5. Olive Oil
Surprise! You thought olive oil was healthy, didn’t you? Well
actually… it IS. Very, BUT, it is not a good oil for cooking. It is
unstable at high temperatures. This causes it to form those nasty free
radicals.
Olive oil actually has lots of wonderful health benefits. It is full
of antioxidants and monounsaturated fats that have been shown to reduce
belly fat
8 and help
your heart. So enjoy it drizzled over salads and vegetables or as a dip
for your whole grain bread, but don’t cook with it if you want to keep
all those great benefits intact.
Now that you’ve removed all the
unhealthy oils from your
kitchen, you’re probably wondering what you’re going to use to cook
with.