Is your oil making you unhealthy?
There’s always something buzzy and trendy in the health and wellness world, and these days there’s a big focus on the oils we consume and why they might be a root cause of your health issues and weight gain.
You know that fried food isn’t healthy and that french fries (my personal favorite) are not exactly a nutritious food, but did you know that it’s not just the oil in the deep fryer you need to be aware of? A lot of oils in our chips, salad dressings, and cakes are actually wrecking havoc on our health and we don’t even know it.
The good news is that this is a pretty simple and painless change to make, as there are oils that are wonderful to incorporate and can easily replace those unhealthy, processed vegetable oils. Below is a list of the main oils to limit or avoid along with my top 5 healthy options to choose instead. I tell my clients to focus on using the right oils when cooking at home, so that you don’t have to stress so much when you eat out where you might not be able to control it.
It’s also important to note that processed foods, especially crackers, chips and baked goods, are often where these unhealthy oils reside, so be sure to check out my recommendations for easy and healthy swaps!
THE OILS
The top oils to avoid or limit:
Canola oil
Palm oil
Soybean oil
Corn oil
Peanut oil
Safflower oil
Sunflower oil
The more important part, the BEST picks for healthy oils:
Olive oil
Avocado oil
Coconut oil
Flax oil
Although not an oil, grass-fed butter or ghee for cooking
In addition to keeping these healthier oils stocked in your kitchen for cooking purposes, you want to be mindful about the snacks and foods you purchase that are more processed. Here are some common ones with my favorite healthy swaps:
Potato chips are surprisingly easy to swap and there are a many options made with either avocado or olive oil, along with potatoes and sea salt. Here are two different ones we love in my house: Siete brand and Boulder Canyon chips.
Popcorn can be a really healthy snack and there are so many great options to choose from, but some of those healthier brands unfortunately still use more processed oils. Here is a favorite popcorn in our house, along with many store brands that are made with olive or avocado oil like this one.
Mayonnaise is a condiment that doesn’t have to be unhealthy, but that is often made with canola or soybean oil. This is a great brand with quality ingredients that you can usually find on sale. Here is another option I like and use.
Salad Dressing can take a salad from great to amazing, but also healthy to inflammatory. It’s important to read the ingredients on your dressing to check the oil and other items. I love a plant-based version of Caesar and ranch, that are made with avocado oil and taste like the real deal. Primal Kitchen makes a great Caesar, along with Chosen Foods, but you can often find the store brand version that’s made with the same ingredients at a better price.
