Weight loss on your mind? Here are 5 cooking oils you must include in your diet (2024)

Leading a healthy lifestyle is not just about eating a nutritious diet, exercising regularly, or getting adequate sleep. There’s a lot more than goes into it. We need to pay attention to the little details, including what oil we use for cooking.

If you think that’s not important, then you are wrong, ladies. That’s because not only does your choice of cooking oil contribute to your health, but it also influences your weight loss goals.

For the uninitiated, oil is one of the most crucial components of fat in our diets. They are made up of saturated and unsaturated fats. And while saturated fats are bad for health, unsaturated fats are good. That’s because they keep your cholesterol levels in check, and contribute to the proper functioning of the body. That said, not all saturated fats increase cholesterol levels. Some of them make for healthy cooking oils. Are you ready to find out which ones?

Well then, here are some healthy cooking oils that must be a part of your diet:

1. Olive oil

Don’t we all love Italian food? The cheesy garlic bread, the fresh salads, and those flavourful pastas. But there’s one ingredient that makes them all special—olive oil. Oh we aren’t propagating an unhealthy lifestyle, but all we are trying to tell you is that this oil has an amazing flavour. And it’s also super healthy!

It is packed with monounsaturated fatty acids and they don’t just keep your heart in good shape, but also help with weight loss. That’s because olive oil promotes the feeling of fullness, which prevents you from bingeing on unhealthy food. Plus extra virgin oil is also said to reduce the risk of breast cancer.

2. Coconut oil

This oil has been considered a miracle cure for everything related to skin, hair and good health! But did you know coconut oil also helps you to lose weight? Coconut oil is extracted from the coconut kernel, and while it does contain saturated fats, they are healthy. It also contains medium-chain triglycerides that promote weight loss. However, make sure you go for extra virgin coconut oil, because it also helps to tackle abdominal fat.

Also, read: Presenting 5 cooking oils that much healthier than olive oil for Indian foods

3. Rice bran oil

Another cooking oil that must be a part of your diet is rice bran oil, which is extracted from rice husk. It is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants that help to accelerate metabolism in the body, which eventually helps with weight loss. What’s more, it is also rich in monounsaturated fatty acids that aid in lowering cholesterol levels in the body. So, it’s clearly a win-win situation! Your health improves, and you shed all that unwanted fat too!

4. Unrefined almond oil

This list cannot be complete without the mention of almond oil. Although it has higher calorie content than the other oils, when consumed in moderation, it can help with weight loss. But remember to use the unrefined varieties, because the rest are not-so-good for your health. Almond oil contains generous amounts of monounsaturated fats and low amounts of saturated fat, which helps to lower body fat and promote weight loss. People use almond oil to bake cakes and other treats, and now we know why!

Also, read: Is olive oil healthier than good-ol’ sarson ka tel? This is what a nutritionist has to say

5. Canola oil

Another oil that is super healthy is canola oil that is low in saturated fat. And because of its great properties, it helps to improve your cardiovascular health and promotes weight loss. Research says that the consumption of canola oil every single day for four weeks helped to lower belly fat by 1.6%.