Weber
Family Chiropractic - Weekly Health Tip February
3, 2025 |
Dear patient and
friend,
In the journals I read
I often come across new developments in the science of chiropractic. However, people like you never become aware
of these important ideas since the media reports so little of it.
Therefore, I’ve taken
yet upon myself to keep you informed of crucial breakthroughs because I know
how important they can be to you, your family and friends. As your doctor, I believe it’s part of my
sacred trust. So, for your information
and consideration, here are these unique and revolutionary developments.
Cooking Oils: Better Choices for the
Family
With childhood obesity and cholesterol levels on the rise, making
decisions on how to pursue healthier lifestyle choices should include the oils
you and your family use in your daily lives.
When it comes to oils, there are several choices; whether the oil
is used for baking, cooking, marinating, flavoring or garnishing determines if
it is the best choice. For example, when baking, healthier choices include
coconut and palm oil, but high-oleic safflower and sunflower oil are the
overall best for this purpose.
Although we should avoid frying foods, I recommend avocado, palm
and sesame oil when doing so because they stand up so well to high
temperatures. When sauteing, these choices also work great. For dips,
dressings, marinades and garnishes, use flax, olive, toasted sesame or walnut
oil.
Cooking oils are generally extracted from one the following: seeds
– safflower, sunflower, sesame, etc.; fruits – avocado, apricot (kernel),
olive, palm, coconut, etc.; nuts – almond, hazelnut, peanut, walnut, etc.; and
vegetables – corn, soybean, etc. The most common method for extraction is to
clean, grind and then press the oil from the source (plant, seed or fruit), but
there are a few special cases that involve squeezing the oil straight from the
flesh of the fruit of the plant. Here are some of the healthier choices to use
when preparing food, particularly when cooking.
Olive Oil
Produced by pressing the flesh of olives, this oil has become
known as the healthy cooking oil, and it certainly is. Compared to vegetable
oil, olive oil should be considered a vast improvement. This particular plant
oil is one of the few cooking oils that contains about 75 percent of its fat as
oleic acid (a monounsaturated, omega-9 fatty acid). Many households use corn
oil or vegetable oil, but research has shown by replacing that choice with
olive oil may lead to a significant decrease in total blood cholesterol and an
improved LDL:HDL ratio.
This oil is one of the best choices to use as a salad dressing and
a great sauté option, but not a good choice for frying or baking. One downside
is its tendency to degrade in a very short amount of time, especially if stored
in a warm place (like a kitchen). In just a month or so, stored olive oil will
begin to break down and eventually go rancid. You can tell if olive oil has
gone rancid by smelling it. If it has a stale smell, like old peanuts or putty,
then discard it.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is an edible plant oil pressed from the fruit of the
palm tree, and is ideal for light fare and subtly flavored dishes. While olive
oil is well-known as the "healthy" oil, this choice is comparable.
Once considered a fatty and unhealthy choice, research by Bruce Fife, ND, and
others suggests it's actually quite the opposite. While coconut oil does in
fact have a high fat content, the fatty acids are classified as medium-chain
fatty acids (MCFAs), while most of the fats in our diet come from long-chain
fatty acids. Parents need to know that medium-chain fatty acids are more easily
digested, preferentially used by the liver to produce energy and the kind of
fats found in breast milk.
A typical concern for those unfamiliar with using this oil is
whether it will affect the flavor of the food. The oil itself is very light and
does not have a strong or clingy flavor, so there is no concern that it will
overpower or affect the taste of the food being prepared. A further benefit of
this antioxidant-rich cooking oil is that it has an impressive shelf life,
especially when compared to olive oil.
As a side note, while coconut oil is beneficial from a health
perspective, there isn't enough research at this time to determine whether
having a coconut allergy also means an allergy to coconut oil. Investigate if
your children are the rare few who have a coconut allergy before preparing food
using coconut oil.
Avocado and Grapeseed Oils
There are two additional oils to consider in terms of healthy
cooking. Avocado oil is more than 50 percent monounsaturated and a
heart-healthy choice, particularly good in salad dressings and when sauteing.
Though this oil is also one that has been suggested as a great option for
frying (because it can tolerate the higher temperature), staying away from any
frying is always the prudent choice. Grapeseed oil, a byproduct of the
wine-making industry, is another healthy alternative for salads, served with
raw veggies and in dips, sauces and salsas.
Make Healthy Choices for the Whole Family
When considering the number of cooking and dressing oil options
that are beneficial to your family's health, there are plenty of reasons to
avoid those that aren't. For instance, vegetable oil isn't going to match up to
these other cooking oils when it comes to measurable beneficial nutrients. So,
when the opportunity arises, make another healthy lifestyle move by
incorporating these healthy cooking oils into your diet.
Dr. Scott Weber
Weber Family Chiropractic
217.243.5438
P.S. Have you tried
Bio-Freeze yet??? If not, ask us for a
FREE sample on your next visit.
P.S.S. Have you
visited our web site lately. Check it
out at jvillechiro.com. Please forward
this message to anyone you know who might be interested in health or
chiropractic.
I first came to see Dr. Weber at Weber Family Chiropractic
because I knew I needed an adjustment on my back and feet. I had been to another chiropractor in my
hometown and while at my last college, so I knew what to expect. My mother, back at home, has treated with a
chiropractor for her rheumatoid arthritis.
Chiropractic has been able to help her also. By attending regular visits with Dr. Weber, I
have been able to participate in sports while in college and play to my fullest
ability. Without regular adjustments, I
would not be playing sports. I would
recommend chiropractic to anyone who is sick or suffering.
Krystal
G.
Several years ago I went to a foot doctor in Alton, he told
me to go to a chiropractor for my feet.
I've been coming for quite some time now, and if I hadn't been happy
with the office or Dr. Weber, I wouldn't have come back. Chiropractic care keeps me going.
Betty
J.
Rockbridge, Il.
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