Is Peanut Oil Healthy

It is often observed that people stay away from deep-fried foods as they are considered unhealthy. However, it all depends on which oil has been used for frying. You would be glad to know that peanut oil comes in the list of healthy oils for deep frying.

Obtained from peanuts, this groundnut oil does not interfere with the natural taste of the food item prepared, even if it is deep-fried. Also, when it comes to making a dish at a high temperature, one can rely on this cooking oil as it has a high smoke point.

It contains a great deal of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. So, using it as a healthy cooking oil helps in lowering harmful LDL cholesterol and boosting the level of healthy HDL cholesterol. It contains vitamin E, which is an excellent antioxidant. Also, the oil is lower in saturated fats that are known to cause cardiovascular problems.

There are people who are allergic to certain ingredients of peanut oil. So, for them having lunch or dinner cooked in this oil can be a cause of great discomfort. In such circumstances, one should opt for refined peanut oil as it does not contain any allergens responsible for causing any worrisome side effects.

Although nutrition of this cooking oil is up to the mark, animal studies have failed to prove its health benefits. Theoretically speaking, this groundnut oil should support heart health as it is a good source of monounsaturated fats and free from bad cholesterol.

However, animal studies contradict this theoretical assumption. Rabbits and rats fed on this groundnut oil suffered from damaged arteries (blood vessels that supply blood to the heart). The groundnut oil actually promoted arteriosclerosis, a condition that causes development of hardened deposits of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries.

This happened because an important constituent of groundnut oil known as lectin (a type of protein) gets stuck on the arterial walls, which appears to narrow the arteries and reduce the blood supply. These results, so far have been observed only in animals.

However, considering the results based on animal studies, some doctors advice not to use peanut oil for cooking on a daily basis.

Looking for peanut oil substitutes? Well, canola or safflower oil seems to be a good option. The reason being, canola oil is a good source of healthy fats and also has a high smoke point.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this story is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a nutrition expert.