veggie-mon

Oils are liquid fats. We use them in many ways when we prepare our food. Some foods, like nuts, olives, and avocados, are naturally high in oils. Other foods, like mayonnaise and tub margarine, are made mostly from oil with no trans fats.

We need oils in our diet. “Essential fatty acids” are necessary for our health. Most people get enough oil from the foods they eat, including nuts, fish, cooking oil, and salad dressings.

When making good food choices, you should try to choose oils with no trans fats or saturated fats . Vegetable oils don't contain any cholesterol . However, a few plant oils are high in saturated fats and should be considered solid fats . Solid fats are called that because they are solid at room temperature. Solid fats contain more saturated fats and trans fats than oils. Oils contain more polyunsaturated (PUFA) or monounsaturated (MUFA) fats. Foods that are high in saturated fats and trans fats can raise “bad” cholesterol (LDL) levels in the blood, which can increase your risks of heart disease and stroke. The PUFAs and MUFAs do not raise LDL level in your blood.