Choosing The Right Oils To Manage Your Osteoarthritis
If you have osteoarthritis, a well-balanced diet is especially essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and weight. And that's why it’s important to know the differences between cooking oils.
Each oil type contains a different combination of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and saturated fats. Many oils contain heart-friendly omega-3 fatty acids -- monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are in particular recommended for their health benefits such as lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke. Oils also have different smoke points, and hence vary in their suitability for high temperature cooking.
How some common oils compare
It’s important to choose the right oil that matches the food you are preparing. No single oil is the best choice in all situations.
Olive oil:
has the highest level of monounsaturated fats
contains antioxidants to help protect against cancer and heart disease
is suitable for dressings, marinades and low- to medium-heat temperature cooking
Canola oil
is high in monounsaturated fat
is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids
is suitable for high-heat temperature cooking
Peanut oil
is mostly monounsaturated
is suitable for high-heat temperature cooking
Sunflower oil
is available in both high-polyunsaturated and high-monounsaturated fat versions
is suitable for low-, medium- and high-heat temperature cooking
Corn oil
is high in polyunsaturated fat
is suitable for high-heat temperature cooking
Grapeseed oil
is high in polyunsaturated fat
is a rich source of vitamin E
is a multi-purpose oil
Vegetable oils
generally contain a blend of oils
Coconut oil and palm oil
contain high levels of saturated fat and are not recommended