There is a lot of talk today about healthy oils, which ones are better and if nothing works, then coconut oil should be the cure-all for everything! Ha! … sarcasm there. 🙂 I can eat coconut oil in baked things, but to apply it to my skin will dry me out more than I already am! If it works for you, that is great! 🙂
Not all oils and fats are created equal. Heavily processed, hydrogenated, “trans” fats and oils that are used in prepared, packaged foods can be extremely damaging to the body. However, fats and oils from whole foods and other high-quality sources can steady our metabolism, keep hormone levels even, nourish our skin, hair and nails and provide lubrication to keep the body functioning fluidly. Our bodies also need fat for insulation and to protect and hold our organs in place.
A healthy percentage of high-quality fat in a meal satisfies and leaves feelings of energy, fulfillment and warmth. When there are excess fats and oils in the diet, especially heavily processed fats, symptoms can include weight gain, skin breakouts, high blood pressure, liver strain and an overall feeling of mental, physical and emotional heaviness. Signs of insufficient high-quality fats are brittle hair and nails, dry skin, hunger after meals and feeling cold.
There are many sources of healthy fats and oils:
- For sautéing and baking, try butter, ghee (clarified butter) or coconut oil because they do not break down when used at high temperatures.
- When sautéing foods at moderate temperatures, try organic extra virgin olive oil.
- Oils like flaxseed, sesame, toasted sesame, walnut and pumpkin seed are best used unheated in sauces or dressings on top of salads, veggies or grains.
- Other healthy fats are found in whole nuts and seeds and in their butters like almond butter or tahini.
- Whole foods such as avocados, olives and coconuts are great sources of healthy fat, along with wild salmon and omega-3 and omega-6 organic eggs.
Experiment with these healthy fat sources and see which work best for you and leave you satisfied.
When selecting oils, buy the highest-quality organic products you can afford, since cooking oils are the backbone of so many dishes. Good words to look for on the label are organic, first-pressed, cold-pressed, extra-virgin and unrefined. Words to avoid are expeller-pressed, refined and solvent extracted.
When I was in Israel in the fall of 2014, our tour guide stopped the bus near an olive grove. He explained how they grow olive trees and how they press for oil.
It made sense to get the cold pressed olive oil because it was the highest quality versus getting oil that had been extracted with heat.
It is also important to not only get your 3-6-9 omega’s, but also your 5 & 7 omega’s! I recently learned more about these important anti-aging omega’s! They can assist with cardiovascular health, immune system and inflammation issues. (2) Send me an email (mannafoldblessings@gmail.com) if you are interested in getting a high quality Omega supplement that includes all of these in one gel caplet! 🙂
Cheers to healthier choices oils and fats!
L’Chaim! (to health)
~Coach Shannon
Resources:
- Institute for Integrative Nutrition
- Natural Health 365
- Ghee