Does cooking virgin olive oil at high temperatures increase one's risk for cancer?
I was told cooking olive oil at high temperatures released a chemical that could be toxic to one's system, and could eventually lead to cancer. I have my doubts, but am curious to see if anyone else has heard this.
Answers:
I have read this in Andrew Weils book NATURAL MEDICINE, NATURAL HEALTH. Oil should never give off smoke as you are cooking, this means oxidation has taken place, chemically changing the nature of the oil and it can be carcinogenic. He also states not to inhale the fumes of burning oil..unfortunately Virgin Olive Oil cannot withstand high heat cooking, so a different oil should be used.
Other Answers:
yeah and so does breathing! also taking a shower gives you brain tumors!
I would say no. This is due to the fact that many people like the greeks and italians do that and they live so dang long. The mediterrainean diet is a very healthy one.
I think extra virgin olive oil is the healthiest kind.
Although if you really want to think about it, pretty much everything is a carcinogen
no olive oil is better for you than the other
If the olive oil starts smoking before you put the food in then yeah that smoke is not healthy to be breathing in (true for every oil)....also if you cook with tuflon then do not let that smoke or chip. It is not a normal product to inhale or eat. It is best to be using caste iron and cook at normal frying temps.
ONLY IF YOU ARE A VIRGIN
broiling and grilling meat at high temperature is what causes the problems. I hadn't heard that vegetable oils cause any problems associated with cancers
Ive recently found out that heating any oil to a very high temperature releases free radicals, which can lead to cancer. The only healthy cooking oil that can be safely heated to high temperatures is virgin coconut oil. This oil is becoming really popular at the moment, with heaps of other health benefits.
Source(s):
Info about free radicals and cancer (but not oils): http://cancer.about.com/od/alternativetreatments/a/antioxidants.htm
Virgin Coconut Oil: http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/virgin_coconut_oil.htm
"Virgin Coconut Oil is a food, and is one of the best cooking oils you can use. It has been a staple cooking oil for thousands of years in tropical climates. As a cooking oil, its chemical structure is kept in tact and therefore is resistant to mutations of fatty acid chains even when used in higher cooking temperatures, unlike most vegetable oils. Research shows that the medium chain fatty acids found in coconut oil boosts the body's metabolism, raises body temperatures, and helps provide greater energy which can lead to weight loss.
Virgin Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, a nutrient that supports the body's immune system. Lauric acid is also found in human mother's milk. Dr. Mary Enig suggests the average adult include about 3.5 tablespoons of coconut oil per day in their diet."
More Questions & Answers...