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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nMove over, coconut oil. Photo: <\/em>Lisovskaya \/ iStock.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In 2003, two small-scale<\/a> studies<\/a> claimed that coconut oil could decrease belly fat and increase metabolism. Over the next decade, the newly christened health food blew up in the wellness world. People were cooking just about everything with it, blending it into smoothies, and stirring it into their coffee. Advocates and some research<\/a> credited it with the power to clear up acne, lower cholesterol, and even improve memory. A 2016 survey of 2,000 Americans<\/a> showed that 72 percent rated coconut oil as healthy.<\/p>\n But coconut oil contains over 50 percent more saturated fat per serving than butter. In 2017, the American Heart Association released an advisory statement<\/a> suggesting that people ease off their coconut oil consumption, citing the link between saturated fat and cardiovascular disease<\/a>. The following year, Harvard epidemiology professor Karin Michels made headlines when she called the oil \u201cpure poison<\/a>\u201d in a lecture at the University of Freiburg.<\/p>\n Colorado-based Kylee Van Horn<\/a>, a registered dietitian nutritionist, encourages skepticism about coconut oil\u2019s health benefits. \u201cIt\u2019s still hotly debated in the health professionals world,\u201d she says. Pure MCT oil, which has demonstrable health benefits, is often derived from coconut oil, Van Horn explains, so the two get lumped together, but just 14 percent of coconut oil is made up of MCTs. Much of the research<\/a> cited in favor of coconut oil is actually conducted on purer forms of MCT\u2014including the two studies that started the buzz in 2013.<\/p>\n Other claims\u2014like the idea that coconut oil promotes belly fat loss<\/a>\u2014stem from small-scale studies or have been taken out of context. For instance, the idea that coconut oil can improve cholesterol levels is misguided<\/a>, Van Horn explains. It does offer a small boost in good cholesterol (HDL), which our body needs<\/a> to regulate overall cholesterol levels and clean out arteries, but that bump is far outweighed by a major increase in bad cholesterol (LDL).<\/p>\n At best, the hype around coconut oil is overblown, but you don\u2019t have to throw out your jar. Just use it the same way you would butter or bacon fat: sparingly. In moderation, it can be a fine addition to a well-rounded diet that includes healthy fats from a wide variety of sources. Aim for oils that are higher in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which help reduce bad cholesterol and are critical to normal bodily functions.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s a guide to navigating the cooking oil aisle. The below options each contain roughly 40 to 45 calories per teaspoon and four to five grams of fat and can liven up your cooking while boosting your health in the process.<\/p>\n Good old-fashioned olive oil is a kitchen staple, and there\u2019s no need to cut it out of your diet. It\u2019s made up almost entirely of monounsaturated fat, specifically oleic acids, which are high in phenolic antioxidants<\/a>. (Avocado and hazelnut oil are good sources as well.) Van Horn points out that these are beneficial to overall health, thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties<\/a>. Olive oil has a relatively low smoke point\u2014the temperature at which an oil will begin to burn and change flavor\u2014of 320 degrees, so it\u2019s rarely used for baking, but it\u2019s ideal for most other applications, like saut\u00e9ing or as a base in salad dressings and marinades. Plus, it\u2019s one of the cheaper oils you can buy.<\/p>\n Its smooth, buttery flavor makes avocado oil great in salad dressings and for all sorts of cooking, according to dietitian and ultrarunner Amy Tribolini<\/a>. Thanks to an extremely high smoke point of 500 degrees, it\u2019s one of the most versatile oils for baking, frying, saut\u00e9ing, and even grilling. Plus, it\u2019s composed primarily of heart-friendly monounsaturated fat. While avocado oil is a bit pricier than olive oil, it\u2019s the most multipurpose option on this list.<\/p>\n Hazelnut oil works well for baking and roasting, having a high smoke point of 430 degrees. Try it drizzled on some sweet potatoes sprinkled with cinnamon for a tasty treat. A teaspoon provides 3.5 grams of inflammation-fighting monounsaturated fat. It\u2019s also high in vitamin E<\/a>. Hazelnut oil has a roasted, nutty flavor and works well as a topper for your morning bowl of oatmeal or a sweet rice dish. Just be sure not to use it in anything you wouldn\u2019t want tasting like hazelnuts.<\/p>\n Macadamia oil boasts an even balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as heart health\u2013boosting<\/a> antioxidants. Like hazelnut oil, macadamia oil has a slightly nutty taste, but with buttery notes rather than a roasted flavor. The delicate flavor doesn\u2019t hold up well to high heat, but it\u2019s an excellent finishing oil or salad dressing base. Try it atop grilled vegetables or shellfish or as a vegan substitute to mimic butter in lower-temperature saut\u00e9ed or pan-fried dishes.<\/p>\n The wellness world overlooks canola oil because it\u2019s typically highly refined and thus stripped of antioxidants and vitamins. Plus, it\u2019s associated with fried food. But of all the oils on this list, canola is the highest in polyunsaturated fat\u20141.2 grams\u2014and it contains 2.8 grams of monounsaturated fat. With a high smoke point of 400 degrees and a completely neutral flavor, it\u2019s a good choice for frying or baking, but it won\u2019t add much to your salad dressings or saut\u00e9es. In the United States, an estimated 95 percent<\/a> of canola oil is made with genetically engineered crops, so opt for an organic expeller-pressed<\/a> option if you\u2019re concerned about GMOs.<\/p>\n Molly Hurford is a fitness + nutrition writer, wanna-be ultra-runner, cycling coach and occasional yoga instructor. She’s also the author of the Shred Girls series.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cooking with Coconut Oil Health Benefits are OverBlown, at best. Here are five healthy alternatives. Move over, coconut oil. Photo: Lisovskaya \/ iStock. In 2003, two small-scale studies claimed that coconut oil could decrease belly fat and increase metabolism. Over the next decade, the newly christened health food blew up in the wellness world. People Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15254,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1260,1093,1],"tags":[1261,1119],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15251"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15251"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15255,"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15251\/revisions\/15255"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15254"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/test.nahtnow.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Extra-Virgin Olive Oil<\/h2>\n
Avocado Oil<\/h2>\n
Hazelnut Oil<\/h2>\n
Macadamia Oil<\/h2>\n
Canola Oil<\/h2>\n