Question

Which of the following oil and fat is healthier? Why?

Oil/Fat​Saturated (g) Monounsaturated (g) Polyunsaturated (g)

Coconut oil​​13​​0.7​​​​0.3

Peanut oil​​2.4​​6.5​​​​4.5

Olive oil​​ -​​10.3​​​​1.3

Canola oil​​1​​8.2​​​​4.1

Safflower oil​​1.3​​1.7​​​​10.4

Lard​​​5.1​​5.9​​​​1.5

Butter​​​9.2​​4.2​​​​0.6

Answer 1

The healthier oil and fat can be decided based on the amount of monounsaturated fats.The oils which has higher monounsaturated fat are healthier because it has higher stability upon heating . The combination of polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat is healthier.

The lower the oil/fat saturated amount can considered as healthier , the higher lower the oil/fat saturated amount can cause risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Healthier oil/fat scale

Oliver oil > Canola oil > lard >Butter > sunflower oil >peanut oil > coconut oil.

Coconut oil has higher oil/fat saturated amount (130gm )than the combined monounsaturated +polyunsaturated fat(70+3 =73 gm), thus considered as not healthier oil.

Peanut oil has slightly lower oil/fat saturated(48gm) amount than the combined monounsaturated +polyunsaturated fat(59gm), thus can be considered healthier.

olive oil has much lower oil/fat saturated amount (10gm)the than combined monounsaturated +polyunsaturated fat (34gm), thus can be considered healthier.

Canola oil has slightly lower oil/fat saturated amount (18gm) than the combined monounsaturated +polyunsaturated fat (25gm), thus can be considered healthier.

Sunflower oil has lower oil/fat saturated amount (32 gm) and the combined monounsaturated +polyunsaturated fat (714gm) is higher, thus can be considered healthier.

Lard has lower oil/fat saturated amount (20gm) than the combined monounsaturated +polyunsaturated fat (96 gm), thus can be considered healthier.

Butter has oil/fat saturated amount (29 gm) and combined monounsaturated +polyunsaturated fat (26 gm), thus it not much healthier.