Weight loss on your mind? Cook using these five oils
Leading a healthy lifestyle is not just about eating nutritious food, regular exercise and sound sleep — there’s a lot more that goes into it. We need to pay attention to details, including what oil we use for cooking. Not only does your choice of oil contribute to your health, it also affects weight loss.
Oil is one of the most crucial components of fat in our diet. They comprise saturated and unsaturated fats. While saturated fats are bad for health, unsaturated fats are good, as they keep cholesterol levels in check and contribute to proper functioning of the body. But, not all saturated fats increase cholesterol levels — some of them make for healthy
cooking oils. If weight loss is on your mind, here are some healthy oils that must be a part of your diet.
OLIVE OIL
An oil that has an amazing flavour, olive oil is an important component of Italian delicacies. And it’s super healthy, too! It is packed with monounsaturated fatty acids that don’t just keep your heart in good shape, but also help with weight loss. That’s because olive oil promotes the feeling of fullness, which prevents you from bingeing on unhealthy food. What’s more, extra virgin oil is even believed to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
COCONUT OIL
This oil has been considered a miracle cure for everything related to skin, hair and good health! But did you know coconut oil also helps you to lose weight? Coconut oil is extracted from the coconut kernel, and while it does contain saturated fats, they are healthy. It also contains medium-chain triglycerides that promote weight loss. However, make sure you go for extra virgin coconut oil, because it helps to tackle abdominal fat.
RICE BRAN OIL
Another cooking oil that must be a part of your diet is rice bran oil, which is extracted from rice husk. It is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants that help to accelerate metabolism in the body, which eventually helps with weight loss. What’s more, it is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids that aid in lowering cholesterol levels in the body. So, it’s clearly a win-win situation — your health improves, and you shed all that unwanted fat too!
UNREFINED ALMOND OIL
Although it has higher calorie content than the other oils, almond oil, when consumed in moderation, can help with weight loss. But remember to use the unrefined varieties, because the rest don’t contain the same benefits for your health. Almond oil has generous amounts of monounsaturated fats and low amounts of saturated fat, which helps to lower body fat and promote weight loss.
CANOLA OIL
Another oil that is super healthy is canola oil, which is low in saturated fat. And because of its great properties, it helps to improve your cardiovascular health and promotes weight loss. Researchers have observed that the consumption of canola oil every single day for four weeks helped to lower belly fat by around 1.6%.
Geetika Sachdev