The Oils of Your Life

January 27, 2017
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS

Award-winning nutritionist and New York Times bestselling author.

3 picks that are as delicious as they are fantastic for your health.

We all know by now that the right healthy fats deserve a prominent place on your breakfast, lunch, and dinner plates. As the body’s preferred fuel, fats—yes—can actually make you thin! They also serve to help prevent or manage depression, diabetes, heart disease, chronic fatigue, allergies, arthritis, psoriasis and eczema. But you might not know which fats do what and which are the best to drizzle on a salad vs use for baking.

Here are three powerhouse picks that I know you’re going to love.

The Incredible Olive

Extra virgin olive oil is considered by many to be the healthiest and tastiest oil in the world. The benefits of extra virgin olive oil are unrivaled, and research reveals more benefits nearly every day. After all, the Greeks, Turks, Italians, French and Spanish all have a diet that is at least 40% fat, most of it from omega-rich sources, yet these populations are slim and boast the lowest rates of heart disease in the world.

Many of the health-promoting effects of the Mediterranean diet have been credited to the addition of a healthy dose of olive oil at every meal. As a rich source of omega-9 fatty acids, olive oil is also known to a number of positive effects throughout the body including lowering the risk of some cancers. In fact, the latest research suggests that adding a mere four tablespoons of olive oil a day to a Mediterranean diet slashes the risk of invasive breast cancer by a whopping 68%.

Olive oil also prevents flare-ups of certain autoimmune diseases, speeding cell regeneration and wound healing, aiding the body in eliminating microbial infections, as well as reducing inflammation. One of its primary ingredients, a substance known as oleocanthanal, has even been called an alternative to Ibuprofen.

The Amazing Avocado

The fat in avocados and avocado oil is another source of adiponectin-nourishing monounsaturates. Among their other healthy perks, avocados possess the uncanny ability to fire up fat burning—to the tune of six pounds in two months. And, the monounsaturated fat content can hold you over for a good three hours!

Surprisingly high in potassium, a typical avocado contains 12 to 17 grams of fiber. With an incredibly high smoke point of 520 degrees F—the highest smoke point of any of the healthy fats—avocado oil is ideal for searing, frying, and sautéing. In addition, it contains high levels of beta-sitosterol, which is a type of plant sterol that can lower cholesterol and is helpful in protecting prostate health.

Avocado oil is also a great source of Vitamin E. This fat-soluble vitamin has been shown to rev up your immune system, improve skin and eye health, as well as give your digestion a much-needed boost to remove toxins from the body.

The Marvelous Macadamia

Macadamia nut oil fires up your metabolism while packing an amazingly rich taste at the same time. The oil that comes from these nuts is pretty incredible. The fatty acid composition of macadamia nut oil makes it perfect to use in many recipes, especially high-heat cooking. This oil is nearly 80% monounsaturated with very little polyunsaturated content and even trumps olive oil—which contains anywhere from 70-75% monounsaturates.

Since macadamia nut oil has such an extremely high oleic acid content, it can be used to help balance your cholesterol levels and reduce triglycerides. Both the omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids are perfectly balanced which makes it an optimal cooking choice. This oil can stand serious heat, up to 400 degrees F, and serves up considerably more antioxidants than any other cooking oil I know of. It is great for making popcorn or stir-frying some veggies, all the while helping you achieve your weight loss goals.

Head over to The New Fat Flush Plan or Eat Fat, Lose Weight to find some fat-fueled recipes that use the incredible olive, amazing avocado, and marvelous macadamia!

Related Articles and Podcasts

Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS, is an award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books including The Fat Flush Plan series and her latest book, Radical Metabolism. She’s been rewriting the rules of nutrition for more than 40 years and is internationally recognized as a pioneer in the field of diet, detox and women’s health issues. 

For a FREE daily dose of tips and strategies for maintaining healthy weight, conquering insomnia, and much more…check out my Radical Health Tips.

I’d like to meet and greet you on my Facebook groups, so won’t you check us out at the Radical Metabolism RevolutionFat Flush Nation, or my Inner Circle!

13 Comments

  1. Lisa

    I do enjoy avocado oil for it’s light flavor. Macadamia nut oil is new to me but I can’t wait to try it. Thanks Ann Louise!

    Reply
  2. Amy

    Hi Ann Louise –

    Which oil helps with allergies – you mentioned allergies in the opening paragraph but I don’t see anymore about it.

    Thanks!

    Amy

    Reply
  3. Trisha

    Thanks Louise as always. I was WONDERING about what oil to use for example, in sautéing asparagus. I use to use olive oil but read that wasn’t good. So avocado is the One – huh?

    Is it best to avoid olive oil for frying in general?
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • Ann Louise Gittleman

      Hi Trish: I think that you could do a light saute with olive oil OR avocado il. Macadamia nut oil is really tasty too. ALL three would be AOK considering this is not high, high heat 🙂

      Reply
  4. RNM

    Can I eat avocado in Phase 1 FF Plan?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Yes you can enjoy 1/2 avocado per day in FF phase 1.

      Reply
  5. dlo

    can we use olive oil on phase1? or only flaxseed oil

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      dlo, You can use a spritz of olive oil in cooking but not substituting it for flax or coconut oil in the requirements for oil on the Fat Flush Plan. Flax oil should not be heated.

      Reply
  6. Sonia Frantz

    Ann Louise, thank you! What about coconut oil for high temp cooking? Do you recommend cooking with EVOO or do you think it’s healthier to just add it after to the food? Thanks for all you do!
    Warmly,
    Sonia in NJ

    Reply
  7. Team ALG

    Sonia, Coconut oil can be used up to temperatures of 350 degrees fahrenheit . Olive oil can be used between 220 degrees to 320 degrees.

    Reply
  8. Heather Sperling

    Can you use avocado oil in Phase 1?

    Reply
    • Team ALG

      Heather, In phase 1 you want to use the oils that are listed because you will get the best weight loss results. Avocado oil is a healthy oil and included in phase 3 after you are at your goal weight

      Reply

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