It is very important to choose the right ingredients when it comes to cooking and eating healthily. According to experts, picking up the right oil for your cooking needs affects not just your weight, but what you fry, bake, or grill with also indicates your heart health.

While Indians have been using mustard oil since ancient times, olive oil has been important to the West, with tonnes of heart-healthy fats and antioxidants in it that many people now use. Even though both mustard and olive oils have unique nutritional properties, their suitability for heart health depends on their composition, the type of cuisine, and how they are used.

Mustard oil or Sarson ka tel is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are associated with reducing levels of bad cholesterol and increasing the good ones. Doctors say it supports a healthy lipid profile and helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

Known for its strong flavour, pungent aroma, and high smoke point, mustard oil is also high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which may reduce several risk factors for heart disease.

Olive oil is among the most widely used oils across the world, which helps lower bad cholesterol and keep your blood pressure levels intact. Commonly used in foods or as medicine, olive oil is the best if you have heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure.

While olive oil is renowned for being rich in monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs—particularly oleic acid—it is also rich in powerful antioxidants like polyphenols and vitamin E, which reduce inflammation, a critical factor in heart disease. The strong anti-inflammatory properties due to oleocanthal—which works similarly to ibuprofen—are also great for your cardiovascular health.

Extra virgin olive oil has modest amounts of vitamins—like vitamins E and K—both of which are loaded with powerful antioxidants that are biologically active. It helps reduce your risk of chronic diseases that affect your cardiovascular and central nervous systems.

According to experts, those seeking better heart health benefits should always use olive oil for cooking, as it is suitable for low heat, can be used for dressings and dips, or even as a simple addition to a Mediterranean-style diet.

Meanwhile, mustard oil holds cultural relevance and practicality for households in India as it has a high smoke point and is suitable for Indian cooking. It affords unique benefits, particularly to those who consume traditional Indian diets.

Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Diet, Health and around the world.