Deep fried food is sure to make the health conscious run a mile away. But a recent study has revealed how food cooked or fried in olive oil or sunflower oil is actually not harmful to the heart. The study has been done using Spanish (Mediterranean) diet which is healthy overall. Even so, fried food in excess provides unwanted calories which in turn can lead to weight gain.

Excess body weight is in itself a risk factor for not only heart disease but also adult diabetes, high blood pressure and many other health problems. So the result of this study does not mean that we can consume any amount of fried dishes as long as they are fried in olive or sunflower oil. Caution is the key.

Moreover, we Indians are genetically different from Europeans. So whatever applies to the Westerners need not necessarily apply to us. Traditional Indian diets have been very healthy although they were cooked in groundnut, gingelly, mustard or coconut oil. Since olive oil is not affordable to all sections of the Indian population, switching over to any of the traditional oils which is incorporated into a nourishing diet and coupled with a healthy lifestyle will boost our heart health.

There’s no single magic food ingredient that can cause or prevent or control heart disease; it’s the entire lifestyle that matters. No matter what oil is used in the diet, as long as the quantity is under control, it should be alright. Fried foods can certainly be a part of a meal on special occasions, but should not become the main source of calories.

The writer is an independent diet, nutrition and wellness consultant