Heart Healthy: Extra Virgin Olive Oil
This oil, made from the first press of olives, is especially rich in heart-healthy antioxidants called polyphenols, as well as healthy monounsaturated fats.
When olive oil replaces saturated fat (like butter), it can help lower cholesterol levels. Polyphenols may protect blood vessels.
When shopping for any type of oil first pressed, cold pressed and virgin are all great descriptors to look for.
Tip: Check out this article to see tips on which types of oil are best for different types of cooking. Try out a few of them and see if you can bring a new flavor to your regular meals and a little more health to your heart.
Comments
Not all oils are the same. That’s the best suggestion you can take with you when looking for healthy oils/fats to incorporate to your diet. But hold on one minute…why would anyone wish to incorporate more fats to their diet? Well, we know the food we eat affects our body diversely and healthy fats are in fact brain food, affecting your brain’s general tone, degree of energy, and how it handles tasks. Your mind is a hungry organ and can begin to falter without its daily consumption of healthy fats. Intellectual performance requires these fats, primarily omega-3 fatty acids, because they are crucial components of the outer membrane of cognitive abilities. Flaxseed oil may be the richest plant supply of omega-3 fatty acids (and also contains omega-6 fatty acids), is really a polyunsaturated heart healthy oil, and is essential for normal growth and development.