Gretchen Scalpi, RDN

Lately, I’m loving avocado oil!  It’s a cooking oil I discovered rather recently, and I now find myself using it almost as frequently as my old mainstay, olive oil.

Here’s some things that may make avocado oil worthy of your attention:

• Avocado oil boasts many of the same health promoting properties as olive oil. It is primarily composed of mono-saturated fatty acids (MUFAs), with a low percentage of saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid.  We now know the mono-saturated fats are the type that we should incorporate into our diets more than saturated, trans, or even polyunsaturated fats.  Using MUFAs can provide you with certain health benefits like lowering your risk of heart disease.  Some research suggests that MUFAs may also benefit insulin levels and blood sugar control.  This is especially important if you have type 2 diabetes.
• One thing that sets avocado oil apart from many other oils is its much higher smoke point.  When oils are heated to high temperatures above their smoke point, many cooking oils start to break down and create free radicals.  Free radicals are damaging to body cell structure.  Many oils (including olive oil) have low smoke points, making them unsuitable for certain styles of cooking that require high temperatures.  Naturally refined avocado oil on the other hand, has a smoke point of 500°, so you can stir-fry, barbecue, broil or roast using a very healthy oil at high heat, without risk of oil breakdown.

Avocado oil is not just for cooking: you can use it in salad dressings,sauces and in baking for a mild, nutty flavor.

If you are already using olive oil for it’s health benefits and good taste, here’s another option to add to your cooking arsenal: Avocado Oil.   With cooking versatility, a healthy source of fat, antioxidants, and no cholesterol, what’s not to like?  To learn more about avocado oil and where you can purchase it, visit Chosen Foods, the largest producer of 100% naturally refined avocado oil.

Tags: cooking, healthy eating, nutritious, olive oil