The Best Oils

By David Mendosa, Health Guide Tuesday, September 16, 2008

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Almost everyone says that organic, cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil is best for salads and for cooking. But almost everyone is wrong.Of course, you could do a lot worse. Some oils are high in trans fats. Some may be contaminated with pesticides. Some knowledgeable people even have serious doubts ...

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Judith

9/17/08 2:56pm

Thanks, David. This is fascinating. We've been experimenting with various oils for some time now, but it is a complex subject, isn't it?! You've laid out various possibilities in a very helpful way.....

Thanks for the work you do on behalf of all of us!.....Judith in Portland, OR

verdungal

9/18/08 8:42am

Just wondering which oil you would recommend for people with nut allergies

verdungal

David Mendosa, Health Guide

9/18/08 10:10am

Dear Joan,

Good question. If my allergies to nuts weren't too severe, I would certainly start with flaxseed for salads (seeds and nuts are close, but not the same) and try to get perilla oil for cooking, since it comes from a herb.

Best regards,

David

9/18/08 11:14am

i would like to know where coconut oil is ranked among oils. I have not tried it yet; experts say it is good for you; other experts say it is poison. what do you think?

thanks for you interesting articles

mary

David Mendosa, Health Guide

9/18/08 12:07pm

Dear Mary,

Good question, one that a friend of mine also asked, but via email.

Coconut oil has no omega 3 fats. So it ties safflower oil (along with almond, apricot kernel, hazelnut, peanut, and sunflower oils as being the worst possible oils in terms of omega 6 to omega 3 ratios.

David

Joe G

9/21/08 5:55pm

If you use canola or soybean products, I suggest you

insist or ORGANIC produce. Here in Canada, it is well known that by far, most

of these crops grown by large operations are of a type that are genetically

modified to resist some herbicides (eg Roundup). The reason being that you

get more yield and can reduce labor, by using herbecides in the fields without

affecting the crop.

Joe G

Anonymous

10/ 1/08 5:30am

I don't agree with all this rubbish . The PALISTINIAN organic, cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil is the best & the healthiest oil in the world from a proven experience of more than 7000 years since the Palistinians settled in the holy land of PALISTINE.

johnny

6/27/10 9:40pm

first and foremost...this idea that some fictitious places olive oil is better than any other is pure bs. This sight should be used for nutritional info, not some stupid political agenda capped off by some misleading information.

KAMIKAZE

5/16/11 4:01pm

Why not buy the new 'FSM Oil' which is totally healthy and best with pasta. And what i just said is total B-LL-SH-T. Just because it has a religeos or political message, doesn't mean it is good, since even the Eurovision contest is practically politically rigged.

MR. LOLZ

5/16/11 4:03pm

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Steve

10/ 1/08 9:51am

Flaxseed oil is ok for women, but it's been documented that there is some type of relationship to prostate issues (enlargement, even cancer) in men. Researchers have yet to determine if the oil creates the condition or exacerbates an existing condition.

windy

10/ 1/08 12:29pm

Your salad dressing recipe sounds great, but I'm curious if you have a sodium count for it? Mustard has sodium in it, plus you add salt to the dressing, and I count my sodium -- so would love to have an idea of the sodium count, if possible.

Thanks!

David Mendosa, Health Guide

10/ 1/08 6:33pm

Dear Windy,

Like you, I watch my sodium intake. I use the "Morton Lite Salt Mixture" that uses potassium chloride as a replacement for about half of the sodium chloride. I have been studying everything I can find about sodium and potassium for a couple of years but haven't written about it, because many experts say that people with diabetes need to watch their potassium intake as much and perhaps more than their sodium. Since my diabetes is completely under control with diet and exercise, I am not concerned for myself, but others may want to avoid potassium.

The nutrition facts for the lite salt I use say that it has 290mg of sodium per 1/4 teaspoon. I probably use about that much or a bit less.

Sometimes instead of the lite salt I use salt substitutes from Penzey's (penzeys.com). None of them have ANY sodium. Penzey's calls them "Sunny Paris Seasoning," "Tuscan Sunset Salt Free Italian Style Seasoning" and "Salt Free Mural of Flavor."

The Grey Poupon Dijon mustard that I use has 30mg of sodium per 1/4 teaspoon.

Best regards,

David

Anne Atwood

10/ 1/08 4:15pm

Are you joking? Get an oil from China or Korea? Is it safe? Is it counterfeit?

Have you checked this all out? I'd never trust it.

David

10/ 2/08 5:47am

Hi David

Great articles as always - do you have any info on rice bran oil?

Couldn't find any reference to omega levels in it!

Thanks David

David Mendosa, Health Guide

10/ 2/08 12:34pm

Dear David,

Sorry, but I don't have that information at hand. The two books that I cited by Allport and Cordain probably do have it. But I have returned them to the library. I strongly encourage you to check them both out and read them.

Best regards,

David

sandokan2112

1/31/11 9:32am

-soybean oil better then extra virgin olive oil? LOL

-coconut oil is no good? LOL

-you cook and fry in poly and mono oils? LOL

Please do your homework before writing this crap.

Look up Mary G. Enig... the world expert in fats (she devots her life to it)

She will teach you a thing or two about fats.

I really did get a good laugh from this article.

gracegirly

3/ 8/11 5:05pm

Well I can tell you right now which oil is best. I had a high cholesteral level of 7.5 australian measurement and taking Udo's oil took it down to 6.1. I take thyroid medication and before I took Udo's oil it was up to 150mg a day, now it is 50mg a day. My weight has been steadily dropping and I am now 13 kilograms lighter since August 2010.

While on this oil I was bouncing with health, problem is it is expensive and I might have to find an alternative. It is a balanced mix of 3-6-9 omegas.

Ricks Electric

5/16/11 8:28am

What about the value of organic coconut oil as an oil for cooking?

David Mendosa, Health Guide

5/16/11 11:44am

Good question. Several people whose judgement I trust advocate using coconut oil. Note, however, that the smoke point of extra virgin coconut oil is too low, 350°, for frying. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_point

David

Ricks Electric

5/16/11 1:47pm

Yes I know, I have set off my smoke detectors more than once and it's kind of annoying.

David Mendosa, Health Guide

5/16/11 5:08pm

Actually, that's worse than annoying. Consuming oil heated above it's smoke point can't be good for us.

Ricks Electric

5/16/11 6:16pm

That's a good point.

I guess the indication is to cook slowly at a reduced temp if coconut oil is going to be used.

My thing is, I love the taste.