Well Oil Never!

When it comes to fats and oils, what is really the best option?

19:50 29 July 2015

When it comes to fats and oils, it seems that our options are endless. However, with hundreds of different products available in supermarket shelves, the process of identifying the best one could be confusing especially when taking into consideration the benefits and harm that come from consuming different types of fats.

 

It is a common belief that using vegetable oils is healthier when compared to butter, animal fat, and lard. But is it really?

 

In an attempt to find answers, researchers gave some Leicester residents a variety of fats and oils and asked them to use them in their everyday cooking. Leftover oils were also saved for assessment later on. Oils that were tried include sunflower oil, vegetable oil, cold pressed rapeseed oil, corn oil, olive oil (refined and extra virgin), goose fat, and butter.

 

"We found," Prof Martin Grootveld says, "that the oils which were rich in polyunsaturates - the corn oil and sunflower oil - generated very high levels of aldehydes."

 

He added: "Sunflower and corn oil are fine as long as you don't subject them to heat, such as frying or cooking. It's a simple chemical fact that something which is thought to be healthy for us is converted into something that is very unhealthy at standard frying temperatures."