When cooking, you can't do without oil. Every family has sunflower oil in the kitchen, and if you don't have it, it's all over, you won't be able to cook anything tasty. But we are constantly being scared that consuming sunflower oil increases cholesterol levels, a large amount of which leads to the development of serious cardiovascular diseases. But olive oil has a great reputation, it is considered almost an elixir of health. So, should those who want to have good health completely give up sunflower oil and fork out for expensive olive oil? There is no need to rush into this, because experts believe that each oil is useful in its own way. And the benefits of olive oil, suddenly, are exaggerated by advertising.
Sunflower oil is not as harmful as it seems, and the benefits of olive oil are exaggerated
Contents
- 1 Everything you need to know about sunflower oil
- 1.1 Why is sunflower oil popular in Russia
- 1.2 Differences between refined and unrefined oils
- 1.3 Which oil is better for frying
- 1.4 Benefits of sunflower oil
- 1.5 Why sunflower oil is harmful
- 2 Everything you need to know about olive oil
- 2.1 Where is olive oil produced
- 2.2 What does “Extra virgin” mean on the label of olive oil
- 2.3 Can you fry in olive oil
- 2.4 What are the health benefits of olive oil?
- 3 Which vegetable oil is healthier?
Everything you need to know about sunflower oil
First, let's talk about the features of sunflower oil. It is very popular in Russia, and there is an explanation for this.
Why is sunflower oil popular in Russia?
The sunflower's homeland is North America, where this plant has been considered sacred since ancient times. Sunflowers appeared in Russia during the time of Peter the Great after the great emperor brought their seeds from Holland.
Sunflowers appeared in Russia only during the time of Peter I. Photo source: familyfuncanada.com
Each sunflower contains up to 2,000 seeds. They are divided into oil and non-oil. The former are used to make oil, while the latter are used to “click” on a bench. In Russia, sunflower oil was not produced immediately — the first oil mill was built only in 1833.
Sunflower oil is more popular in Russia than in other countries. This is due to the fact that it was not prohibited for consumption during Lent. In addition, it is much cheaper than olive and other vegetable oils.
Differences between refined and unrefined oils
If sunflower seeds are pressed and nothing else is done with them, the result is unrefined oil. It has a strong smell and is used for salad dressing.
Food can only be fried in refined oil. Photo source: edimdoma.ru
The production of refined oil is a more complex process that uses organic solvents. It does not have a strong odor and is best suited for frying.
What oil is best for frying?
Food can only be fried in refined oil. If you use unrefined oil, the dish will be full of carcinogens – substances that cause cancer. Everyone should know about this.
Benefits of sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is rich in vitamin E, which protects cells from oxidative stress – in other words, it protects against cancer. This vitamin also strengthens the immune system and improves the condition of the skin and hair. Sunflower oil also contains a lot of linoleic acid, which is also beneficial for cell health.
Whatever they say, sunflower oil has many health benefits. Image source: freepik.com
In addition to all this, sunflower oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, which reduce the level of bad cholesterol. This means that it is good for the heart.
Why is sunflower oil harmful?
It is believed that sunflower oil lovers often have elevated cholesterol levels. And this is despite the fact that cholesterol is found only in animal products. When consuming large amounts of even healthy fats, a person's fatty tissue grows. If a person gets fat, the liver and small intestine begin to produce cholesterol in excess. And this negatively affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Cholesterol plaques form in blood vessels due to cholesterol. Image source: radiokp.ru
In addition to sunflower oil, other products cause high cholesterol levels. These include egg yolk, fatty pork, sausage, butter, and mayonnaise. So replacing animal fats with vegetable fats is impossible to protect against cholesterol. To do this, you just need to eat food in moderation.
ATTENTION: Popular vegetable oil destroys the intestines
Everything you need to know about olive oil
Olive oil is popular all over the world. But in Russia it is less popular because it appeared later than sunflower oil and is several times more expensive.
Where is olive oil produced
Greece is considered the birthplace of olive oil. Olive trees have been grown there for many thousands of years. In addition to Greece, olive oil production is highly developed in Italy and Spain. These countries have bred unique varieties of olives and developed advanced methods for their processing.
There are about 50 varieties of olives in the world, but the most popular is the European olive. Source: kakogo-chisla.ru
It is very popular due to its beneficial properties and unique taste. It is the basis of the Mediterranean diet, which is considered the healthiest. This has been proven in numerous studies.
What does “Extra virgin” mean on the label of olive oil
If the olive oil label says “Extra virgin” it is of the highest quality. Therefore, it is more expensive than other options.
For salads, it is best to use extra virgin olive oil. Photo source: technodzen.com
High-quality olive oil is obtained by cold pressing fresh olives without the use of chemicals. It is also subjected to minimal processing, due to which it retains the maximum amount of useful substances. Expensive olive oil has a rich aroma and taste, so it is used for dressing salads and preparing many other dishes.
Can you fry in olive oil
You can fry in olive oil if the label says “Pure” or “Light.” These labels mean that harmful substances do not form in the oil at high temperatures. But it is better not to fry in Extra Virgin olive oil, because it is ideal for salads and other fresh dishes.
What is the use of olive oil
Olive oil is useful because it contains a lot of monounsaturated fatty acids. It is especially rich in oleic acid, which helps reduce the level of “bad” cholesterol and maintains heart health. These fats also help reduce inflammation in the body and can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
It is believed that the benefits of olive oil are overestimated – sunflower oil is no worse. Photo source: proficosmetics.ru
In addition, olive oil is rich in antioxidants, the aforementioned vitamin E, and polyphenols, which protect cells from damage and aging. They support healthy skin, improve digestion, and can help reduce the risk of developing dangerous diseases, including diabetes and cancer.
Which vegetable oil is healthier
Roskachestvo experts believe that each oil is healthy in its own way. The health benefits of olive oil are overestimated: residents of Greece, Spain, Italy and some other countries are considered healthier because olive oil is the basis of their diet. But what is overlooked is that along with olive oil, they consume a lot of fruits, vegetables, and white meat.
Nutritionists recommend using a mix of oils. Image source: kubanmakler.ru
Subscribe to our Zen channel. There are already more than 10 thousand of us!
Which vegetable oil do you use the most? Write in our Telegram chat.