Question: Which Cooking Oils Should I Avoid When Following a Cholesterol-Lowering Diet?
Answer: An important part of following a cholesterol-lowering diet includes preparing healthy foods. There are many heart-healthy ingredients available to you to cook with, including oils. However, there are some oils you need to limit -- or avoid -- if you are trying to lower your cholesterol . Cooking with certain oils may raise your cholesterol levels, especially if used in excess.
The following oils should be limited -- or avoided -- in your cholesterol-lowering diet, since they are high in saturated fat and low in unsaturated fat:
- Coconut oil
- Palm oil
- Palm kernel oil
If you are in doubt as to whether or not your favorite cooking oil is cholesterol-friendly, look for the amount of fat on the nutrition label. Heart-healthy oils should be low in cholesterol and saturated fat, and high in unsaturated fat.
Sources:
Wardlaw GM, Hampl JS, DiSilvestro RA. Perspectives in Nutrition 6th edition. 2004. McGraw Hill Publishers. New York, NY.
