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Last Updated: Jan 10, 2023
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Olive Oil Vs Coconut Oil - Which One Should You Use?

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Dr. Neelam MohantyGeneral Physician • 30 Years Exp.MBBS, Fellow in Critical Care(FCCM), PGDPHM
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When you just came to the conclusion that olive oil is healthy for your health, suddenly, you may have read another study result that says that coconut oil is best for your health. No doubt, you are puzzled and confused which one to take. In this article, we will try to give you some idea of the healthy aspects of coconut oil and olive oil and some hard facts about them.

Let’s find them out

1 Tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil 
119 Calories 116 Calories 
14 (g) Total Fat 14 (g) Total Fat 
1(g) Saturated Fat 12 (g) Saturated Fat
9.8 (g) Monosaturated Fat  0.8 (g) Monosaturated Fat 
1.4 (g) Polysaturated Fat  0.2 (g) Polysaturated Fat
0 (mg) Cholesterol 0 (mg) Cholesterol

Goodness of Coconut Oil - The Saturated Fats

  1. Acts as an Antioxidant and Reduces Oxidative StressVirgin coconut oil consists of some antioxidants, like polyphenols and flavonoids. In the process of oxidative stress, the blood vessels in our body and heart get affected that leads to heart attack. These antioxidants keep us safe from such heart ailments.
  2. HighTemperature Resistant: It means that, if you cook in high temperature in coconut oil, you won’t get your food smoked. Coconut oil is a saturated fat, and it is high temperature resistant.
  3. Reduces Hunger: It keeps you away from those irritating hunger pangs when you consume foods cooked in coconut oil.
  4. Improves metabolic rate: Coconut oil increases metabolic rate that ultimately helps to reduce our waist size.

Goodness of Olive Oil - The Monounsaturated Fats

  1. Heart Friendly Fat: Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats. The American Heart Association has certified these fats as a heart friendly fat.
  2. Lowers LDL Cholesterol: Olive oil helps in lowering the low density cholesterol level that is known as bad cholesterol in our body.
  3. Some Essential Substances Present in It: Olive oil is rich in vitamin E and polyphenolic compounds. These two components are antioxidants that help in reducing the systemic inflammation level in our body.

Now the point is: Which Oil Is Better for Your Health?

The Verdict
So, from the table and discussion, it is clear that both coconut and olive oil are good for our health. But none of them are miracle fats. You need to consume both oils in small amounts. For cooking foods that need high temperature, like roasting, stir frying, you can use coconut oil as it has high temperature resistance. On the other hand, for simple cooking, use olive oil. But don’t use extra virgin olive oil for cooking, as heat at higher levels can destroy the Vitamin E and Polyphenol compounds in the Olive Oil. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a general physician.

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