Heating olive oil can release toxic fumes?

Olive oil is extremely healthy, but is it a good cooking oil? It is good for heart, cholesterol, and digestive purposes and is one of the most loved oils for culinary purposes. However, many believe that olive oil is unsuitable for cooking because of unsaturated fats. Did you know that heating olive oil destroys many of its heart-healthy properties? It is best to use saturated fats when cooking. It is because of the molecular structure of oils. Saturated fats have no double bonds so they are not sensitive to heat, light or oxygen. Unlike saturated fats, unsaturated fats have double bonds which makes them sensitive to heat, light and oxygen. Despite being one of the healthiest oils, Olive oil has raised many questions.

It is a liquid fat obtained from pressing whole olives. Olive oil is commonly used for cooking, for frying foods or as a salad dressing. As olive oil is loaded with nutrients, it is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, soaps, etc. It mainly consists of oleic acid, fatty acids including linoleic acids, and palmitic acid. There are different types of olive oil available like extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, refined olive oil, and olive oil pomace but not all are good for culinary purposes. Here is why you should switch to some other cooking oil for high heat cooking.

Many olive oils are not real. Brands replace olive oil with cheap oils including soybean oil, canola oil, hazelnut oil, and other low-grade olive oils. According to a study by UC Davis in 2011, imported brands of olive oil failed to meet international sensory standards for extra virgin olive oil established by European regulators. So, the oils could be adulterated or mixed with other vegetable oils. You might need to think about its originality and choose a brand you can trust.

We know that olive oil is loaded with many health benefits, but it is better not to cook with it on high heat. It isn't cheap to buy extra virgin olive oil and its delicate nutrients should be protected. Saturated fats like ghee, coconut oil, and avocado oil can be much better choices for cooking.

Olive oil contains heart-healthy polyphenols that are rich in antioxidant properties. These phenols begin to degrade when exposed to high heat. Research shows that phenols and polyphenols, when exposed to heat, degrade quickly. Use olive oil for mild cooking and as salad dressing and let it remain cold and unheated.

Apart from its health benefits, olive oil also helps in cutting down depression and improving brain health as it contains a decent amount of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids are sensitive to heat and are destroyed when the oil is heated.

When the oil is heated ahead of its smoke point, it gives off toxic smoke. As olive oil has a low smoking point, cooking with it increases the risk of creating smoke that includes compounds which are harmful to your health. You may not even realise that you are breathing in the toxic fumes.

Olive oil is healthy and delicious but just don't use it for cooking. It can be wonderful as a salad dressing, mixed in dips and can be drizzled overcooked vegetables. If you are looking for a good oil for cooking, use saturated fats like coconut oil, ghee, tallow and avocado oil. But what about the claims by several oil companines that you can use olive pomace oil or refined olive oil for cooking? Well, using them means using any other vegetable oil which is double filtered and refined and is bereft of nutritional benefits.