Dr Kevin Huffman, bariatric physician and CEO of Ambari Nutrition, drew attention to a little-known cooking oil that’s perfect for roasting vegetables and potatoes
Potatoes, parsnips and a plump-looking turkey are likely among the various items on a typical Christmas shopping list. Yet, one nutritionist suggests that another little-known product is certainly worth adding – especially for those concerned about cholesterol.
Dr Kevin Huffman, bariatric physician and CEO of Ambari Nutrition, believes that avocado oil can make all the difference to the health of your festive feast. This is primarily thanks to ‘monounsaturated fats’, which may help to slash the ‘bad cholesterol’ in your blood.
“These oils are monounsaturated fats, which means they contain far more nutrients, and can improve your cholesterol levels,” he told Patient, before adding: “Transforming mashed potatoes into cauliflower mash [also] offers a creative, nutritious swap for side dishes.”
Find out about the symptoms you need to watch out for and get health advice with our free health newsletter from the Mirror
Dr Huffman certainly isn’t alone in his views either, as various other experts have also lauded the benefits of avocado oil. This includes two scientists at China’s Hunan Agricultural University who outlined its surprising benefits in a scientific review last month.
Fatty acids and a rich quantity of ‘phytosterols’ were among the numerous components they drew to, with the latter associated with potentially lower cholesterol levels. However, further research is required to better understand these relationships.
“Avocado oil has a protective effect against hyperlipidaemia, lowering TC, TG, and LDL-C levels and protecting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, a behaviour that can be attributed to high levels of MUFA, phytosterols, and tocopherols,” the study experts wrote.
Later, they added: “The outstanding potential of avocado oil as a health food has many benefits, among which the intrinsic nutrients of fatty acids, phytosterols, PCs, tocopherols and fat-soluble pigments have been studied more comprehensively. However, studies on whether other fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamin K) present in avocados enter avocado oil during the extraction process, as well as their contents, stability and biological activities, are still insufficient.”
You can buy avocado oil from various supermarkets including Sainsbury’s at £3.00, Tesco’s at £4.15 or Morrisons for £3.00. The oil is often described as having a ‘neutral taste’, yet ideal for achieving a crispy texture when roasting potatoes.
Beyond this, Edward Mather from FuelHub, also advised against using too much oil in general, while substituting traditional stuffing for whole grain stuffing. He said: “Swapping traditional stuffing for whole grain stuffing (use whole grain bread or quinoa instead of white bread) will boost fibre content and provide more complex carbohydrates as opposed to simple carbs.
“Switching to desserts, using dark chocolate (less than 70% cocoa) as a dip for fruits like strawberries and bananas is a good alternative to traditional Christmas puddings.”
On a separate note, he added: “The Christmas period usually involves a lot of eating and this can take it’s toll on the digestive system. If this is a concern for you, add yoghurt and kefir to your shopping list. They contain probiotics – good bacteria – which improves the gut microbiota. This aids digestion and reduces constipation, so increasing consumption of yoghurt can be a good idea.”
