Choosing healthy cooking oil is not easy in the midst of various products on the market. Corn oil is one type of oil that you can use to avoid rate high cholesterol.
Portions are not excessive from corn oil or oil from vegetables and other nuts, is a good source of fat for the body. Moreover, several studies have shown that corn oil can reduce cholesterol better than other healthy oils, such as olive oil.
Content of Unsaturated Fats and Phytosterols
One category of healthy oil is that it contains high monounsaturated and double-chain fats. Corn oil is an oil that is rich in unsaturated fats which can help lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease.
There are three ways corn oil can help lower cholesterol:
- Replace saturated fatty acids with healthy unsaturated fatty acids.
- Push low-density lipoprotein (LDL) which is often called bad cholesterol.
- Improve LDL and ratio high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or good cholesterol.
Not only polyunsaturated fatty acids play a role in lowering cholesterol levels, but also monounsaturated fatty acids. In addition, monounsaturated fatty acids are also useful in maintaining the stability of insulin and blood sugar levels, thereby reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Food products derived from vegetables and corn oil contain lots of phytosterols. This substance can suppress cholesterol, because it can block the absorption of cholesterol, including LDL, in the digestive tract. Even small amounts of phytosterols have an effect on cholesterol absorption. According to several studies, consuming two grams of phytosterols per day for one to two weeks can reduce bad LDL fats by up to 10 percent.
Combination of Oil Use
One suggestion for using plant oils is to use a combination of various types of oil for cooking and adding aroma.
One factor to consider is the boiling point. If heated to past its boiling point, the oil will appear smoky. When this happens, the nutritional content will decrease and cause an unpleasant taste in the food.
Corn oil, soybean oil, and sesame oil are suitable for frying, because they have high boiling points. While canola and olive oil are suitable for frying at medium temperatures. While oils from flaxseeds or walnuts, are best served as a salad mixture or other foods that do not go through the cooking process.
If you have high cholesterol problems, you can use corn oil as an alternative to fat intake. If necessary, combine it with several other types of healthy oils to get maximum benefits. However, also pay attention to the amount of intake and how to cook it.