Does Cooking with Olive Oil Ruin the Health Benefits?

Olive oil is by far one of the best oils for you to add to your diet. Since olive oil is made from the flesh, not the seeds of the olive, it requires less pressure and lower temperatures for obtaining the oil. This preserves the nutritional qualities of olive oil. Olive oil is the only oil that is made from the flesh and not the seed.

When choosing an olive oil, the greener the better. Always use extra virgin or virgin olive oil as these are the purest forms. Do not use an olive oil that says refined or pure. Refined means it has been chemically processed, losing many of the benefits and pure, simply means it came from an olive. Also, even though olive oil has a long shelf life, choose one with an opaque container and store in a cool dark place.

Full of Vitamins A and E, Magnesium and oleic acid, olive oil is heart healthy. Olive oil is also low in linoleic acid which makes it even healthier. It is 90% unsaturated fats and mostly monounsaturates. It is also an anti-inflammatory for the treatment of asthma and rheumatoid arthritis.

Olive oil is very healthy, however, not so much for cooking with. Cooking at high temperatures damages oils. Too much heat can cause oxidative damage to the olive oil.

Instead of cooking with olive oil, it should be used as a flavor enhancer. For example, use it as a substitute for butter. Instead of putting butter on bread, use olive oil and light seasonings for extra flavor. Drizzle olive oil and vinegar for salad dressing. When sautéing anything from meats to vegetables, try wet sautéing instead. Instead of sautéing in oil, use a few inches of water or broth until almost finished. Then, drizzle olive oil for flavor with the added health benefits.

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