Good Fats
- ciaralitchfield
- May 13, 2014
- 2 min read
The notion that all fats are bad is completely incorrect. Your body needs some fats to help maintain normal bodily functions.
Extra virgin olive oil is my chosen source of fat as it’s the healthiest oil money can buy. This is due to its highly monounsaturated structure which is dependent on the source of the fat, in this case, oleic acid which is an omega-9 fatty acid.
It’s favourable to fats such as butter and margarine as these sources are saturated and contribute to heart disease and weight gain if consumed too regularly. Unsaturated fats are usually in liquid form such as oils and come from plant rather than animal sources.
Extra virgin olive oil is made from the first pressing of the olives; this gives the oil a very delicate flavour and a large amount of health benefits. Due to its delicate nature its best not to heat extra virgin olive oil too much as the heating process can damage its qualities. As Extra virgin is a more expensive grade you want to hold on to all its benefits. This means its best to use as part of a salad dressing or dip.
I suggest mixing your oil with either mustard, lemon juice or wine vinegar to create a fresh dressing for your salads. Alternatively they can be used as a dip by adding them to salsa or adding it to baked vegetables which have been mashed e.g. aubergines. If you are looking to lose weight limit your intake to a table spoon a day! This way optimum health and weight loss is ensured while still reaping the benefits.
The list of extra virgin olive oil’s health benefits is extensive, much due to its higher antioxidant content than sunflower or vegetable oil, which provides a host of benefits in itself. In addition, while saturated fats are harmful to the heart unsaturated fats are heart healthy as they help to reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and raise good cholesterol (HDL). So don’t think that all fats are bad, it’s a total myth, just be wise when picking your sources!
