Healthy Organic Oils

Canola oil, sesame oil, vegetable oil, avocado, tea, walnut, soybean, sunflower, safflower, palm, peanut… you get the picture.  So many oils, so many different smoke points, tastes, usages, health risks — what’s a person to do?  There are pros and cons to all of them.  But there are two that I feel are actually fairly good for you.  And by good for you, I mean good for your body.

Olive Oil Organic, Extra Virgin and Cold Pressed

Olive oil is made from pressing the fruit of an olive tree.  It has increasingly become more and more popular.  It’s best if used for non-cooked foods; great for salads and dipping sauces.  Olive oil is high in monosaturated fatty acids making this a nutrient rich fat that your body will thank you for.  Let’s not leave out your heart, with loads of polyphenol antioxidants, olive oil can lessen the risk of heart disease.  Typically the less processed the oil is, the better for you.  I like the organic extra virgin kind.  It’s kinda pricey to buy in stores BUT olive oil has a long shelf life, making it easy for you to buy it in bulk at a reduced price at online retailers.  Check out Amazon’s site for some good deals.

Coconut Oil – Extra Virgin, Organic, and Cold Processed

Now let’s take a look at coconut oil.  I know people that swear by using coconut oil on their skin in order to make it look flawless.  On occassion I’ve rubbed it on my hands during the really dry winter months and I guess my hands look pretty but I’m gonna talk about what it does for the inside of your body.  Coconut oil has a high source of  saturated medium chain triglycerides.  And about half of those MCT’s contain lauric acid.  Lauric acid is an essential fatty acid in building and maintaining your body’s immune system.  Medium chain fatty acids also increase your metabolism and are easily digested.  Your liver quickly absorbs it and converts it into much needed energy for your body.  You should thank your liver sometime… itworks extremely hard for you.  As I said before, I know people who use this good stuff on their skin, I also know people who eat it directly.  Like as in a spoonful.  Mary Poppins had it right, “Just a spoonful of sugar coconut oil makes the medicine nutrients go down, in the most delightful way!”  Disney is like Oprah; always right.

Just like the olive oil, the more “virgin” it is, the better.  Less processed ANYTHING is better.  Also, I buy this in bulk too for discounted prices.  Look on the Nutiva website for more product and price info.

And if you’re interested in more info on olive oil, coconut oil or just types of good fats in general, click on the highlighted.

Want some recipes that include these oils?  Check out our sister site ImaHungryHippo.com