Extra Virgin Olive Oil vs Vegetable Oil: Which is Better for You?
There are a lot of different types of cooking oils on the market. It can be hard to decide which one is the best for you and your family. Here, we will compare extra virgin olive oil and vegetable oil and help you decide which is the better choice for you.Vegetable oil is a catch-all term for any type of oil that comes from a plant. This includes oils like canola oil, corn oil, palm oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, and soybean oil. Vegetable oils are highly processed. This means that the oil is heated, chemical-treated, and more processing. This can lead to the oil being rancid and full of unhealthy fats without having health benefits. Second, vegetable oils are often used for frying purposes. When these oils are heated to high temperatures, they can produce harmful compounds that can increase your risk of cancer.
Extra virgin olive oil has lower in saturated fat and higher in both polyunsaturated and monosaturated fats, a.k.a. the healthy fat, which can help lower your risk of heart disease and can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and balance the blood pressure. Olive oils contain 14% of saturated fat and 73% of monosaturated fats. On the other hand, one of the vegetable oils, Canola oil has the least amount of saturated fats, which is 6% and contains a higher percentage of monosaturated fats, which is 62%. Extra virgin olive oil (only the high polyphenol ones) is also rich in antioxidants that can help protect cells from damage. It also contains both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are important in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Rich in flavor
Vegetable oils or vegetable oil blends have a neutral flavor. This means they won’t add any extra flavor to your food. On the other hand, extra virgin olive oil is made from cold-pressed olives. It has a rich, fruity flavor that can enhance the flavor of your food and it has a slightly bitter taste.
High in antioxidants
Extra virgin olive oil is a rich source of antioxidants, which can help protect cells from damage. These antioxidants, healthy compounds of olive oil, work to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals, and they may help reduce the risk of some chronic diseases. Some of the antioxidants found in cold-pressed olive oil include polyphenols, flavonoids, and terpenes.
Antioxidants can also have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. Inflammation is the body’s natural response to injury or infection, and it helps protect us from harm. However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it can lead to a number of health problems. Some of the symptoms of chronic inflammation include pain, swelling, redness, and stiffness. Extra virgin olive oil can help to reduce the risk of chronic inflammation by providing the body with antioxidants that work to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals.
Smoke Point
The smoke point of cooking oil is the temperature at which the oil starts to produce toxins and harmful compounds. These toxins can be dangerous to your health and can increase your risk of cancer. Extra virgin olive oil has a high smoke point than vegetable oils. It has a smoke point of 410 degrees Fahrenheit, which means that it is a good choice for high-heat cooking methods like searing and grilling. This means that it can be heated to a higher temperature without producing harmful toxins. This makes it a safer choice for frying foods with having a high smoke point. And, not only this is one of its potential health benefits of it, but it also enhances the flavor of food. When used in place of other oils, extra virgin olive oil can improve the nutritional value of dishes while reducing their calorie content. In comparison to olive oils, vegetable oils have also similar smoke points as well but vegetable oils are high in unhealthy fats that can cause health problems. These oils include canola oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, soybean oil, and sunflower oil. When these oils are heated, they produce harmful compounds that can damage your health.
At Opus Farm, we believe that you're what you eat and we do the Mediterranean diet. And, our champion product Opus Black, a high polyphenol extra virgin olive oil was born with that belief to carry the highest health benefits in the highest quality. We recommend small-batch, domestic and single origin products because this is the only way you can find the highest quality, the big olive oil producers can miss that part. When you taste Opus Black, you'll taste and smell the different kinds of flavors and also a bitterness that comes from having rich in antioxidants. And, you can shop our heart health Opus Black to use on your daily diet.
