healthy cooking and one other thing..

Question
Hey George

Well first of all, my mother has a question.  She would like to know the best type of oil to use for baking and frying (canola, vegetable, olive, etc.).

I have a question myself, however, because your profile mentions physical fitness.  I am physically active; I work out USUALLY 6 or 7 days each week, an hour or more each time.  Also I try to eat at least a salad a day, along with at least a serving of fruits and vegetables.  I drink skim milk with every meal and eat only wheat bread.  My only problem is that I love sugar: cokes, cookies, smoothies, ice cream.  I treat myself to ice cream one time each week.  Sometimes, though, I'll grab one cookie (or two) when I'm leaving the cafeteria (I'm a college student, and cookies are about the only good thing our CAF makes).  And I'll drink about a coke a day.  And maybe 3 smoothies a week (from the little cafe on campus).

I know that it's not a good idea to consume more energy than you can burn, but is it okay to eat a cookie a day or drink a few cokes a week?  I'm not going to totally deprive myself of sweets.  I know that a "diet" is a lifestyle, and I'm certain that I wouldn't be able to go my entire life without ever eating another cookie.  So is one or two a day too much?  Should my one bowl of ice cream a week be satisfactory?  How many calories/fats from sugar is recommended for a normal diet?

Thanks for anything you send back.
Bethany

Answer
Hello Bethany!

   Thank you for your nutrition questions.  Let mom know that the best type of oil to use for baking and frying would be olive oil. It naturally yields high levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E and antioxidants, all of which make the product the best option for the kitchen. Most importantly, olive oil also lowers bad cholesterol and makes you less susceptible to high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer.
   Your question is also a very good one.  You are correct in saying that "diet" involves  lifestyle changes.  While eating foods which are high in sugar such as cookies can be unhealthy it is not good to cut them out of your diet entirely.  When we deprive ourselves of food which we find enjoyable we do more harm than good.  It is recommended to eat these types of foods in moderation which means one or two small cookies is alright daily.

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