Updated September 03, 2013.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Question: Which Cooking Oils Should I Use to Prepare Cholesterol-Friendly Foods?
Answer:
Watching your cholesterol and fat intake when following a cholesterol-lowering diet not only involves watching the foods you consume, but also involves watching what you add to the foods that you prepare. Cooking oils are used frequently in the preparation of many foods. Unfortunately, using some of these oils in your foods may raise your cholesterol levels.
The good news is that there are many heart-healthy oils available that will not severely impact your cholesterol. When looking for oils to cook with, look for the amount of fat on the nutrition label. An ideal oil to cook with would be low in cholesterol and saturated fat, and high in unsaturated fat.
The following oils are considered cholesterol-friendly oils, since they are high in unsaturated fats and low in saturated fat:
- Olive oil
- Canola oil
- Sesame oil
- Vegetable oil
- Corn oil
- Safflower oil
- Soybean oil
- Sunflower oil
Sources:
Wardlaw GM, Hampl JS, DiSilvestro RA. Perspectives in Nutrition 6th edition. 2004. McGraw Hill Publishers. New York, NY.
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