Some people worry that seed oils (like sunflower, peanut, and soybean oil) are bad for us because they contain an omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid).
But this, experts claim, does not actually cause the inflammation it鈥檚 accused of creating.
Kerry Beeson, a qualified nutritional therapist at Prep Kitchen, previously told HuffPost UK: 鈥淪eed oils are objectively quite healthy, in that they鈥檙e typically low in saturated fats.鈥
Writing for UC Davis Health, cardiovascular dietitian Margie Junker, who focuses on how our diets affect heart health, shared that she loved flax and peanut oil.
鈥淟iquid plant oils are rich in unsaturated fats, which reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and heart disease risk,鈥 she said.
But, she added, she avoids one particular type of fat for cooking.
The dietitian steers clear of fats that are solid at room temperature
鈥淚 stay away from fats that are hard at room temperature, such as bacon grease, shortening and margarine,鈥 she told the university.
According to the World Cancer Research Fund, most cooking fats are higher in saturated fats.
鈥淭oo much fat in your diet, especially saturated fats, can raise your cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease,鈥 the NHS added.
Other solid cooking fats include ghee, lard, and butter.
鈥淚 also avoid tropical oils (coconut, palm, and palm kernel), animal fats (butter and lard), and partially hydrogenated fats,鈥 Junker shared.
Coconut oil has some of the highest saturated fat levels of all common cooking oils (86% to butter鈥檚 52%).
So, while Junker said she 鈥渙ccasionally鈥 adds coconut oil or butter to a dish for flavour, she chooses not to cook with them.
Whatever oil you choose, use it in moderation
The British Heart Foundation recommends rapeseed oil as their best pick alongside olive oil, while Junker likes avocado oil most.
But though some oils and fats are higher in saturated fats than others, fats of any kind should not make up more than 35% of our diet.
鈥淐urrent UK government guidelines advise cutting down on all fats and replacing saturated fat with some unsaturated fat,鈥 the NHS shared.
Combining lower-saturated fats with moderation is key to better heart health.