Coconut Oil vs. Olive Oil

Olive oil and coconut oil are the best cooking oils for the present day preparation of food. Cooking with olive oil is more preferable than cooking with coconut oil as it is found to have more benefits health wise. Though many benefits of coconut oil are established it cannot be matching with that of the health benefits offered by extra virgin olive oil and this is one of the most expensive olive oil available in the market.

Now let us see whether coconut oil or olive oil is the best cooking oil among the two:

Use of coconut oil for cooking is an age old practice around the world, and the benefits of coconut oil have been the subject of many studies. Coconut oil uses are many in our daily life and coconut oil for hair is most prevalent in today’s society. Though this is useful as a skin and hair care oil but coconut oil for cooking is not preferred over olive oil as it is found to contain 87% Lauric acid that is a form of saturated fat and just 2 % of mono-saturated fat. As these fats are not good for your heart generally using coconut oil for cooking has to be avoided.

But Olive coil offers great flavour even in its raw, uncooked form. It contains lot of mono-saturated fats and provides the vital phyto chemicals that are known to prevent cancer. Olive oil nutrition value is far better than the coconut oil and when you use olive oil for cooking the food tastes better and has a unique flavour. The Extra Virgin Olive oil has Oleic acid that is classified as a mono-saturated Omega- 9 fatty acid and has 73% of mono saturated fatty acids, 14% saturated fat, and 11% of Poly-unsaturated Omegas, 9% of Omega-6, 0.7% Omega- 3.

It has lot of anti- oxidants and adds more Vitamin E and K to your diet. It is a good source for iron also. It has a smoking point of 200 to 340 Degrees F and hence it can be used for low temperature cooking and as the best cooking oil you can use this for low-heat cooking, spreads, Salad dressings, dips, food processor etc.

Due to this use of Olive oil for cooking is more preferable than the coconut oil.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Author Alex Ferrari is the co-owner of Olimila Gourmet Emporium (aka Ferrari Olive Oil) and has his Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Aged Balsamic Vinegar Tasting Room in the heart of Studio City in Los Angeles, CA. For more information go to: Olimila Gourmet Emporium

Alex also hosts a weekly show on YuTube called “The EVOO Show” where he discusses all things olive oil, balsamic and foodie! Watch the show by clicking here: THE EVOO Show