There are so many different options nowadays for cooking oils. And with a ton of different opinions online, it's hard to know which ones are actually healthy for you. Today, we're going to take a look at peanut oil. Peanut oil isn't the healthiest oil on the market. It offers some health benefits, but it also can cause some health risks. Let's dive deeper into what it is and what research has to say on whether it's healthy for you.
What Is Peanut Oil?
Peanut oil is made from the seeds of the peanut plant. Peanut plants flower above ground, but their seeds are found underground. There are actually a handful of different kinds of peanut oil, and what differentiates them is how they are processed. There are refined peanut oils, cold-pressed peanut oils, gourmet peanut oils, and peanut oil blends.
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Health Benefits
There are two major health benefits that can come with consuming peanut oil: decreasing the risk of heart disease and improving insulin sensitivity.
Because peanut oil has a high concentration of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, it can help reduce the risk of heart disease. These two types of fat have been studied and shown that they can reduce bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels, two things that increase the risk of heart disease.
There are other studies that show how these fats also improve the body's control of blood sugar. Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats particularly play a large role in helping control blood sugar. A study that replaced saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat showed that it significantly improved the amount of insulin released,
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Health Risks
Some important health risks you should be aware of if consuming peanut oil are that it can cause inflammation and lead to heart disease, premature aging, and cancer.
Although the polyunsaturated fat in peanut oil can be the reason for the health benefits above, it can also cause issues. These kinds of fat are susceptible to oxidation, meaning it breaks down when it is exposed to oxygen. This causes the formation of harmful compounds and free radicals. These, unfortunately, can cause heart disease, premature aging, and cancer.
Peanut oil is also high in Omega-6 fatty acids, which, although important for certain bodily functions, can cause inflammation. This can lead to inflammatory diseases like obesity, heart disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.
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- Cooked to Perfection: Prepared by gourmet chefs and delivered fresh to you.
- Zero Prep, No Mess: Just heat and enjoy in minutes.
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Conclusions
Although peanut oil can offer some health benefits, it also poses some potential health risks. This is one of those situations where the good doesn't really outweigh the bad. So, when looking for a healthy oil, it's better to opt for avocado oil, olive oil, or coconut oil.
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