If you're worried about cholesterol, you should eat 'this oil' instead of butter.

When stir-frying vegetables for curry, I use unsalted butter...

Now... should I use sunflower oil, or not?

I think I should start using Hansalim brown rice oil.;;

I used unsalted butter because it has a better flavor... Sigh...

One of my cholesterol levels isn't good either...

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Oil made from rapeseed, safflower, sunflower, and pumpkin, etc.

Consuming a product made by mixing olive oil and high-quality vegetable oils instead of butter has been shown to be better for cholesterol and long-term heart health. [Photo=Getty Images Bank]

Butter is known to be high in calories and contains a lot of saturated fats that clog arteries, which are associated with heart disease. A study has been published that proves this.

According to a study published in Nature Medicine, consuming a product mixed with olive oil and high-quality plant oils instead of butter is better for cholesterol and long-term heart health.

Researchers from Kalmus University in Sweden and the German Institute of Human Nutrition compared the effects of replacing butter with a mixture of olive oil and rapeseed oil to replacing it with only safflower seed oil.

Olive oil is highly regarded for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Canola and safflower seed oils are rich in omega-6 fatty acids. These fatty acids have been shown to regulate metabolism, promote skin and hair growth, maintain bone health, and support the reproductive system. Plant oils, nuts such as walnuts and almonds, and seeds like sunflower and pumpkin are good sources of omega-6.

Professor Clemens Wittenbecher of Calmerus University, the lead researcher, said, "We found similar health benefits in both alternative oils," and "This further confirms the health advantages of diets rich in unsaturated plant-based fats, such as the Mediterranean diet."

Professor Witenbeher also introduced oils that can complement olive oil, which has replaced butter. These include rapeseed, safflower, sunflower, and avocado oils. He explained, "Among these plant-based oils with beneficial fat content, olive oil and avocado oil have the highest heat stability and are good for cooking and frying at moderate temperatures," and added, "Unrefined extra virgin olive oil, rich in antioxidant polyphenols, and nut and flaxseed oils, which are rich in omega-3, can also be beneficial for health."