A debate on cooking oils has reached boiling point – pinning olive oil and alternatives like seed oils against each other.
Olive oil has been touted as liquid gold and hailed for its varied health benefits, such as improved heart health and reduced inflammation, with studies to back up the claims.
However, Laurentia Campbell, a nutrition specialist and adviser to the World Health Organization, said: ‘When it comes to olive oil research, most of it is done in fairly well-off or healthy (Mediterranean diet) people, something to be considered from the results.’
And as influencers and celebrities push the olive oil agenda, alternatives like safflower, sunflower and soybean oils, have been vilified, with some health leaders claiming seed oils increase inflammation, which in turn is linked to conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression and Alzheimer’s.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has even claimed Americans are being ‘unknowingly poisoned’ by seed oils.
However, experts on the matter say research on seed oils is ‘mixed’ and results are not clear. So Americans shouldn’t be rushing to ‘chug olive oil like it is water.’
Campbell added on LinkedIn: ‘I get so angry with influencers telling me all seed oils will kill me and to chug olive oil like it is water for health. They do not realize the nuanced nature of nutrition and how it is personalized to individual health.’
Additionally, others warn people could be overdoing it on the olive oil craze and because the oil is so calorically dense, it could actually lead to weight gain and all the associated negative health consequences.
Olive oil is just one component of the Mediterranean diet, not a main ingredient to be guzzled, dietitians told DailyMail.com
Singer Dua Lipa has helped popularize olive oil as a dessert ingredient by drizzling it on vanilla ice cream
New York dietitian Michelle Routhenstein told DailyMail.com she had a client who was drinking one cup of the oil per day, while seriously struggling to lose weight.
Routhenstein said: ‘This extreme behavior not only hindered his weight loss efforts but also adversely affected his cholesterol levels, as such high volumes of olive oil can be high in saturated fat, counteracting its purported benefits.’
Estimates vary, but by one analysis the global olive oil market was valued at around $14.2billion in 2022, and it is growing by about 3.33 percent per year. This estimate projects the global olive oil market’s value will reach $18.42billion by 2030.
The consensus among experts is that cooking with a splash of olive oil is safe and indeed the preferred cooking oil of many professional chefs and dietitians alike.
And while the oil has high levels of healthy unsaturated fats, Campbell said the health of oils also depends on their ratio of omega-3s (fats crucial for heart, brain and eye health) and omega-6s (fats that play a role in brain function and heart health), as well as the temperature you cook them at.
All oils have different smoke points, the temperature at which the oils burn, start decomposing and producing harmful byproducts.
Olive oil’s smoke point is lower than many seed oil alternatives – about 325 degrees Fahrenheit (165 degrees Celsius), meaning there is a higher risk of burning the oil, having it break down and releasing free radicals and a substance called acrolein, the chemical that gives burnt foods their pungent flavor and harsh aroma.
Seed oils, however, have higher smoke points, including avocado oil at 375 F (190 C), sunflower oil at 440 degrees F (225 C), soybean oil at 450 degrees F (230 C) and safflower oil has the highest at 510 F (265 C).
Consuming more than half a tablespoon of olive oil a day led to a 19-percent lower risk of cardiovascular death compared to those who consumed about one teaspoon or less per day. Similar findings were observed for a number of other conditions, such as cancer
Jennifer Lopez claimed that the women in her family used olive oil on their skin, so she now puts it in her signature makeup line
Millionaire biohacker Bryan Johnson claimed he drinks a few tablespoons of olive oil each morning, part of his expensive and unproven diet aimed at turning back the clock
So while olive oil may be fine for quickly frying an egg, it isn’t suitable for frying your favorite chicken.
Additionally, Dr Mark Hyman, a practicing family physician, revealed cooking with seed oils is also safer than cooking with other olive oil alternatives like butter or bacon fat.
On a recent episode of Huberman Lab podcast with Dr Andrew Huberman, he said: ‘Do we know for sure that it’s [seed oils] a problem? I think the data is mixed.’
Adding to the olive oil problem is the fact many health influencers encourage their fans to drink it straight.
Dua Lipa and her fans drizzle it on ice cream. Bodybuilders on Reddit claim to guzzle it to bulk up. Jennifer Lopez credits it for her radiant skin.
And Silicon Valley biohacker Bryan Johnson, who drinks several tablespoons with breakfast, sells his own brand of olive oil as part of an unproven longevity diet.
But Campbell said: ‘Do not get health washed by influencers. Trust the science and use your head.’
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .