2 Healthy Oils- How to Choose, Use, & Care For Them to Reap Their Benefits!

Choosing Olive Oil

When possible, choose Extra Virgin Olive Oil. This is because when an Olive oil is labeled Extra Virgin, it is supposed to follow these quoted guidelines:

Once you have 

• the right type of olive oil (extra virgin) 
• in a dark bottle to keep light away and 
• from a reliable source so it’s stored properly and not in excess heat, 
• you’ll want to look at the dates on the bottle or scan the QR code to find the harvest date. 

The harvest date will help you ensure you purchase oil produced in the last year.

Note: “Many imported olive oils have their Harvest and “best by” dates in EU format. In such cases, 4/10/2024 would mean the oil was harvested on October 4th, 2024.

So that’s how I recommend choosing olive oil- now for- how I find the Olive Oil brands to purchase.

How to find Brands of ‘Healthy’ Olive Oil

I suggest and have been buying olive oil from Olive Oil Lovers for my family and friends as gifts since 2015.

When I’m ready to order, I go to the site and head to the Shop New Harvest page. First, I click the button, then scroll down and click organic on the left-hand side.

I quickly videotaped my screen as I navigated from the New Harvest Arrivals page to the site’s filter for Organic. This is where I then choose my Extra Virgin Olive Oil Brands. I would use any of the Organic options on the site and choose according to taste preference.

One consistent Olive oil I just reordered for my husband when I decided to write this post is the Organic 46 Parallel.

When it comes to figuring out what you might like the site does a good job describing the Olive Oils as well as what they pair well with.

Depending on your country, you can either use this site as a source to purchase organic extra virgin olive oil or as a reference for olive oil in your region.

One more Olive Oil Brand Link:

If my husband is running low and wants to bridge the gap between orders – he likes and orders this one.

Caring for and Using Your 2 ‘Healthy’ Oils.

Here are essential things to know so you can care for your 2 healthy oils in a way that ensures they contribute to your health.

Once you’ve put the effort into choosing and buying Extra Virgin Olive Oil, KEEPING it in a way that provides you the health benefits is essential:

A simple way to remember how to do that is to avoid exposing them to H.A.L.

H.A.L. = Heat, Air, and Light

When exposed to H.A.L., your wonderful, health-promoting oils will be transformed into unhealthy oils.

So avoid exposing your 2 healthy oils (or any fragile oil) to H.A.L.: Heat, Air, and Light and you will reap the health benefits you are looking for.

Here’s why Avoiding Heat, Air and Light Matters-

Heat: Heat increases LOPs (Lipid Oxidation Products), which we do not want because:

“Lipid oxidation is a process that results in rancidity and deterioration of fats and increases free-radical chain reactions.” 2 (bold added)

“…and “Lipid oxidation products have mutagenic, carcinogenic and cytotoxic properties and considered to be risk factors for human health” 3

Cool, room temp is how we want our Olive oil ‘processed and stored.’

When using oils in food preparation, you want to keep them below their smoke points to ensure you are getting their health benefits.

→Oils each have their own tolerance to heat; that’s why I made the charts in the Post SMOKE POINT FOR COCONUT OIL and 19 Other Healthy Fats for you. Olive and Avocado are also listed there.

Smoke Point For Coconut Oil Plus 19 Other Healthy Fats

The smoke point for cold-pressed, unrefined, raw coconut oil is 350 F (177 C). I’ve created a chart for you that includes the smoke point of coconut oil and 19 other unrefined, cold-pressed healthy oils/fats. PDFs included.

READ Post

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The More Unsaturated The Fat The More Fragile

When looking at fats’ smoke points, you’ll notice that the more unsaturated the fat, the lower the smoke point. The more fragile it is, the more quickly it gets ruined.

Low smoke point oils can best provide health-promoting benefits when drizzled over food.

Next in the H.A.L.: A and L

Air and Light

Air

Air Exposure is easy to avoid. Keep the bottle closed. If, in the restaurant, the olive oil is in an open container that you pour with the tip open, I’d pass. Also, buying smaller bottles is best if you consume oil sparingly. The smaller bottle helps keep the air space in the bottle to a minimum.

Light

Light. Buy Oils in darkened or black bottles. Keep your bottles in a cool, dark place.

Moving to Question 2:

Yes, I can! Since I happen to react to Olives, I use Avocado oil.

Avocado Oil fits the bill in so many ways, including the fact that it offers similar health benefits!

2 Healthy Oils: Avocado Oil & Olive Oil Similarities

As with olive oil, you want to choose an avocado oil, that is unrefined and cold-pressed. 

Similarities of the 2 Healthy Oils: Olive & Avocado

Just like Olive Oil, avocado oil is rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, and antioxidants. As a matter of fact, their calorie and fat breakdowns of mono, saturated, and unsaturated are almost identical.

The vitamin E content in Olive Oil is slightly higher but, according to researchers, not noteworthy.

Both are high in Lutein (an antioxidant that benefits skin and eyes)6

They both help absorb Fat-soluble vitamin A from your vegetables (Vitamin A is essential for normal vision, the immune system, reproduction, growth, and development; it helps keep your heart, lungs, and other organs working properly) 8

A big difference between Olive Oil and Avocado oil is Avocado Oil has a higher smoke point than olive oil.

 It’s the oil I choose when roasting things like sweet potato fries.

The Avocado Brand I currently Use

The Avocado Oil Brand I currently use is Benissimo, which is 100% Pure Organic Avocado Oil, Cold-Pressed, Allergen-Free, Organic, and non-GMO. 

There you have it!
The 2 healthy oils (of many) my family uses and how I choose the brands. Along with the information so, you can:

1. Choose healthy Olive and Avocado oils
2. Care for and use your oils in a way that ensures they benefit you and your family.
3. Links so you can explore Brands.

References and resource links are provided for you a the bottom of this page.

Thanks for sending in your questions! It’s always super helpful to know what’s on your mind so I can continue to build the resources, tips, tools, and programs that help you create The Simple Self Care Lifestyle you want!

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