Scottish Daily Mail

Olive oil is not the only good oil on the block

- ANGELA DOWDEN

Asda Vegetable Oil, £1.09 for 1l, asda.com

Per tablespoon: Calories, 126; saturated fat, 1.1g; monounsatu­rated fat, 8.7g; polyunsatu­rated fat, 4g.

Good for: All uses. THIS is actually rapeseed oil, which is high in healthy monounsatu­rated fat and low in saturated fat. It has the omega-3 fat linoleic acid, which helps maintain heart health and fight inflammati­on. The oil has a high smoke point — the temperatur­e at which it starts to degrade or break down (which harms flavour and nutrients). Prolonged exposure to heat can cause it to form trans fats, which are the worst for cardiovasc­ular health, so don’t reuse it. Borderfiel­ds British Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil, £3.50 for 500ml, sainsburys.co.uk

Per tablespoon: Calories, 123; saturated fat, 0.9g; monounsatu­rated fat, 8.7g; polyunsatu­rated fat, 3.5g.

Good for: Dressings, stir-frying. HIGH in monounsatu­rated fat and low in saturated fat, this has some omega-3 fat linoleic acid. It’s coldpresse­d, so has more plant sterols, which lower blood pressure and cholestero­l. It’s a myth that all cold– pressed oils degrade when heated: this has a smoke point of 230c.

Biona Organic Flax Seed Oil (pictured), £5.69 for 250ml, asda.com

Per tablespoon: Calories, 135; saturated fat, 1.3g; monounsatu­rated fat, 2.4g; polyunsatu­rated fat, 10.1g.

Good for: Drizzling. A TABLESPOON of this oil (left) contains around two-thirds of the amount of omega-3 as in a 130g salmon fillet. You can’t heat it — the polyunsatu­rated fat content makes it sensitive to oxidation, when harmful molecules form.

Olivado Extra Virgin Avocado Oil, £4.65 for 250ml, ocado.com

Per tablespoon: Calories, 121; saturated fat, 1.9g; monounsatu­rated fat, 10.3g; polyunsatu­rated fat, 1.5g.

Good for: Roasting, sauteing, drizzling. THIS is high in vitamin E and cholestero­llowering beta-sitosterol. It produces fewer trans fats than virtually any other when heated for a long time.

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