Oils

Oil is a part of most people's diet, and oil is a common item found in most kitchens. Oil is something that has been part of man's diet for thousands of years.    

In the Bible, we read a lot about oil. It was used in cooking. It was used in God's Tabernacle. Later, it was used in God's Temple in Jerusalem for the menorah - the golden lampstand. Oil was also used in anointing. The Bible specifically mentions olive oil.

 

Like peanut butter and sweeteners (which I've written about on this blog), not all oils are the same. Oils are not created equal. There is a huge difference between healthy oils and not so healthy oils.

I'm not a nutritionist, but in learning more about health in the past few years, I've learned that the type of oil we consume on a daily basis has an enormous effect on our health! 

Apparently, the human body needs healthy fats to function optimally. Healthy fats can be found in foods such as: avocados, nuts, and seeds. (and a few other foods) Olive oil is a healthy fat. The same is true of avocado oil. 

What are some not so healthy oils and not so healthy fats? 

Hydrogenated oils and partially hydrogenated oils are not good for you. The same is true of lard. (pig fat) Those are some of the worst oils and fats for you. Other not so good oils include cottonseed oil and canola oil. Those are oils you want to avoid. Soybean oil isn't so good either. Soybean crops are heavily sprayed with chemicals and pesticides. (so sad!)

If you read the label on most vegetable oils (which sounds healthy because of the name vegetable), it says: soybean oil. 

I've learned to read a lot more labels than I used to. Just like I look for added sugar, I also look for oils that are not so good - particularly, hydrogenated oils.

If you're someone who does some occasional baking, and you've discovered that vegetable oil is the only oil that works for your recipe to turn out well, using that oil in small amounts (like sugar) is usually okay.

However, if you use oil on a daily basis for cooking - frying, roasting, or baking - I would highly encourage using olive oil. I personally believe that olive oil (extra virgin) is the best oil for our health! (the Bible wins! God knows!) Olive oil is very good for baking or roasting. Olive oil is also wonderful in fresh salad dressings!   

If you do a lot of frying or high heat cooking, avocado oil is a better choice for that! Olive oil is not as good for high heat (smoking point) type cooking. Olive oil is better for low to medium heat cooking. 

Avocado oil is a thicker, heavier oil that has a natural, butter like flavor. It is wonderful for high heat cooking. (like stir fry)  

Coconut oil is a lighter, thinner oil that also works for high heat cooking, but I recommend using coconut oil more for your skin. (more on that later in another blog post) 

Walmart sells these healthier oils I mentioned. They also sell the not so good oils, and based on the amount I see on the shelves at our local Walmart, vegetable oil (soybean oil) appears to be a top seller! No wonder - it sounds healthy. Sadly, it isn't. 

     

Have you ever wondered why fast food (like McDonalds and others) are not so good for you? Want to take a guess? One of the reasons is the oil they use to fry their food in. The other reason is that fast food is often heavily processed and loaded with preservatives and chemicals. I might eat McDonald's once or twice a year, but that's about it. 

Years ago, I would have viewed someone like myself as a "health nut" - a term for someone who was into health maybe a little too much. However, the older I get (and I'm only in my late 30's) I'm realizing that it is good to be aware. I want to know if something isn't good for me. 

I think being aware is a good thing, a very good thing. I guess that is the reason for this blog. I want others to also be aware. I desire to be healthy aware but not healthy consumed. 

I do think it's also worth mentioning that it is not so much what you eat once a week, or once a month, or once a year. It's the choices you make on a daily basis that have a huge impact on your health! The type of oil you use is one of those things.

The Mediterranean diet has been deemed as one of the healthiest diets out there. Can you guess what is part of the Mediterranean diet? Extra virgin olive oil.  

Olive oil and honey (which I wrote about in my last blog post) are both mentioned in the Bible, God's Word. God created us, and He knows what is best for us, including our health!

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, and I have no medical training. The things I share on this blog are simple, practical things that I've learned help with good health.