Healthy Fried Food

You like fried foods, but want to make them a little healthier. Maybe the answer is olive oil.

Let's be honest, who doesn't like fried food once in a while.

But the problem is that fried foods can be bad for your health, especially if consumed too much. They can lead to obesity, high cholesterol and even high blood pressure. All of which can increase a person's chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

A group of researchers out of Spain, where both sunflower and olive oil are just about the only oils someone can find, wanted to see what the difference would be if foods were fried in these healthier types of oils. After following over 40,000 adults for 11 years, they found that when people used olive or sunflower oil to fry foods they didn't increase their risk of coronary heart disease or death. But that doesn't give us a blank excuse to consume more fried foods, even if cooked with healthier oils. It's still best to practice my favorite word, moderation, and add in plenty of antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables. That's the best way to keep your heart healthy all year long.