Protect Your Heart
Monounsaturated oils, including olive, canola, mustard and sesame, provide the most heart-protective effects, maintaining high levels of HDL cholesterol while lowering levels of LDL cholesterol, says Tarla Dalal, author of “Healthy Heart Cookbook: Low Fat Low Cholesterol Recipes.” By contrast, polyunsaturated fats may decrease LDL cholesterol but also might decrease your levels of HDL cholesterol, and saturated fats promote elevated LDL levels. For optimal health, do not consume more than 6 teaspoons of oil per day and no more than 3 teaspoons if you have a tendency toward high cholesterol or history of heart disease.