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It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.

Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy


 
 

Ask Dr. Gourmet

Is peanut oil good for you?

Does peanut oil have sufficient health benefits to make it practical for every day use?

Dr. Gourmet Says...

peanuts in the shell and a glass bottle of peanut oil

Peanut oil can be a good choice for cooking. It has a good balance of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids and studies have shown that it lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and raises HDL (good) cholesterol. It has a higher smoke point and is good for cooking.

The flavor of peanut oil can be harsh for some purposes, such as baking, but is otherwise a good choice.

Thanks for writing.

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP
Dr. Gourmet