When we cook, vegetable oils often factor into the equation—sautéed, fried, and other cooking methods often require their use. Yes, they add flavor and ease of cooking to our foods, but are vegetable oils good for us?
The most common linoleic acid in vegetable oil is omega-6 fatty acid, an important nutrient that our bodies cannot synthesize by themselves—but its impact on our health remains controversial. Many vegetable oils contain both omega-6 and omega-3, what is their optimum ratio and how do we choose which oils to use?
Linoleic Acid–‘Friend’ or ‘Foe?’
Some would consider linoleic acid to be a “friend” to our health—a superhero who fights heart disease, raises good cholesterol levels, and helps control blood sugar—a view based on scientific studies. Here are a few examples:…