Grocery Shopping Showdown
- By Matthew Kadey, M.S., R.D.
- Published Nov 12, 2012
- Updated Dec 17, 2012 at 4:13 PM UTC
Zero in on the smartest choice when it comes to two “healthy” options.
As you know, your food dollar doesn’t stretch as far as it used to. As a result, you might find yourself increasingly hemming and hawing over which foods to toss into your grocery cart. But the most nutrition-packed choice isn’t always obvious. Oats or granola? Almond butter or peanut butter? We’re sending several similar edibles to the ring to crown the nutritional champs. »
Canola oil vs. vegetable oil
The champ: canola oil
Vegetable oils are often made with low-grade soybean, corn, cottonseed and/or sunflower oils that contain high levels of omega-6 fats. A diet with too many omega-6s and too few omega-3s can promote internal inflammation, raising the risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease and potentially slowing exercise recovery. With fewer omega-6 fats and more omega-3 ones, canola oil is a better option for home cooking. If you want to steer clear of genetically modified canola, opt for organic brands.
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