Is olive oil or sunflower oil healthier?

Olive oil is more popular than sunflower oil. These two oils are completely edible, however recipes tend to include olive oil much more often and sunflower oil very rarely.

Why is this happening? Is olive oil or sunflower oil healthier? We explain here the differences and benefits of one and the other oil and its uses in gastronomy.

Is olive oil better than sunflower oil?

Both sunflower and olive oil have important nutrients and benefits for our health. Nevertheless, They are not the same, they do not taste the same and do not confuse them. Although the production processes between one and the other are similar, the differences are notable.

Due to the differences between them, the question very often arises as to whether olive oil or sunflower oil is healthier. Before giving a definitive answer to this question, we are going to list the benefits and characteristics of each one.

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Olive oil

Olive oil is obtained from the fruit of the olive tree. This fruit is called olive or olive, and a large part of its pulp is oil, so a simple pressure on it fruit, it achieves oil, however the processes have become more complex over the years.

Olives between 6 to 8 months of maturation are used to obtain this oil.. A first pressure is carried out to extract the juice, with the subsequent method that determines the final quality of the product. There are different levels of quality, such as virgin and extra virgin olive oil.

Olive oil has multiple properties and benefits for the body, thanks to the nutrients it contains. For these reasons it is widely used in the Mediterranean diet, which is considered one of the healthiest.

This oil has vitamins A, D, E and K, it favors the absorption of minerals, polyunsaturated fats and oleic oil. All of this has benefits for the body, helping to prevent or reduce certain conditions.

Olive oil is a food with antibacterial properties. It improves the health of the digestive system, is helpful in relieving rheumatoid arthritis discomfort and helps to improve metabolism and optimize brain functions.

In addition to all these benefits, olive oil seems to help prevent Alzheimer's, nourish skin, lower cholesterol, and even lose weight, although the latter only if consumed as part of a hypocaloric diet.

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Sunflower oil

Sunflower oil is obtained from sunflower seeds. The process is carried out by means of pressure to extract the oil that these seeds contain. However, there are two types of process to obtain it and this is where an important difference lies.

The extra virgin sunflower oil results from a cold extraction. This oil is not so easy to find in supermarkets, so you have to be careful with those that are marketed and verify that it is an extra virgin oil and that they are not cheating.

This oil, like olive oil, has many benefits and properties. It is anti-inflammatory, as well as being a source of healthy fats, which help reduce bad cholesterol and are auxiliary in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

It also contains antioxidants and vitamin E, so it helps the skin look fresh and elastic. It can even be applied externally as an instant skin moisturizer. It is also used to fight fungal infections.

However, sunflower oil has a great drawback that we must know about. It should be consumed raw. That is, it should not be used for cooking as high temperatures cause it to burn very quickly and expel harmful substances.

Therefore, sunflower oil should be preferred extra virgin, the product of a cold extraction and consumed directly from the container without having passed through fire or cooking. In this way you will be enjoying the benefits that this oil has for the body.

Then... Is olive oil or sunflower oil healthier?

Knowing the properties of both oils, an answer can be reached. While olive oil is known to be healthy and its intake is recommended, sunflower oil raises doubts and reservations about whether it has benefits or not.

In addition, comparing one with the other, even more doubts arise and people usually end up inclining to use olive oil. Rumors that sunflower oil causes harm to health have led more and more people to stop using it.

But as we have already seen, both oils provide the body with different benefits through the nutrients that compose them. In both cases the benefits to the cardiovascular system are very similar, however sunflower oil also offers properties that benefit the digestive system.

However, olive oil can be consumed raw as well as after having undergone a cooking process. Unlike sunflower oil, which can only be ingested raw to really enjoy its nutrients.

For this reason, the belief that olive oil is healthier than sunflower oil has taken hold until become a statement, leaving aside the benefits of replacing olive oil with olive oil in some cases. sunflower.

The bottom line then is that the two oils offer nutrients and benefits to the body. They both have great flavor and can go very well in salads. But if it is a question of using them for cooking, then you should always choose olive oil over sunflower oil.

Bibliographic references

• Privé, F. et al. (2010) Temperature and duration of heating of sunflower oil affect ruminal biohydrogenation of linoleic acid in vitro. Journal of Dairy Science, Volume 93, Issue 2, 711-722.

• Gorzynik-Debicka, M., Przychodzen, et al. (2018). Potential Health Benefits of Olive Oil and Plant Polyphenols. International journal of molecular sciences, 19 (3), 686. doi: 10.3390 / ijms19030686.