On a day when many of us will be enjoying the Super Bowl surrounded by greasy food options, we’re delving into a…slippery question.

Getting into the health of oil is slimy for several reasons. First, we have to narrow it down.

Coconut and palm oils, for instance, have lots of saturated fat, while olive oil has relatively little. Since limiting saturated fat intake is recommended by most respected health organizations around the world, we’ll start by advising limited coconut oil.

The quantity and use of oils also makes a significant difference. Adding a tablespoon of fresh oil to a cold salad is different than frying a vat to deep fry peanuts.

Lastly, as our favorite shell with shoes on would ask: “compared to what?” Olive oil is certainly healthier than animal lard, but it can’t hold an oily candle to an avocado.

All told, the answer to “is oil healthy?” is a clear, unsatisfying “it depends.” The firmest conclusion we can make is that oils are healthier than some alternatives.

Why oil doesn’t meet our health standard

airfare faithful know the rules by now. For a snack ingredient to be #actuallyhealthy, it must:

• Be 100 percent plant-based
• Come from real, whole foods (no juices instead of whole fruit, and no xanthan gum type junk)
• Have no no added sugars or sweeteners
• Have no added oils

That last criterion sometimes spurs a familiar question, even from our most ardent fans. What’s the problem with oil?

In some instances, we’re big oilers, like Edmonton’s favorite hockey team. Some oils have been shown to have health benefits, like extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). It’s part of the famous Mediterranean diet, which consensus science seems to agree is one of the healthiest diets possible.

Many studies have attributed the health benefits of EVOO to its unique polyphenols. These benefits include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease, and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.

Still, we leave all oils off the #actuallyhealthy list, including EVOO.

We stick to the closest-to-whole principle of nutrition, which says that the closer to the whole food form of anything. we eat, the better. A smoothie is better than a juice, and whole fruits, vegetables and nuts are king.

Think of olive oil as the juice from an olive. While EVOO packs in a whopping 1,000 calories per half cup, the same volume of olives contains just 125 calories and adds a few grams of fiber.

That’s partly why health organizations and studies recommend EVOO only as a substitution. They mostly agree that instead of saturated fat coming from things like butter, cream, and animal fat, switching to olive oil has great benefits.

We agree with that stance, and we go one step further. We’d prefer to leave out the oil altogether and get the healthy fats from whole foods, like nuts and avocado, which have been shown to have similar or better health advantages than any oil.

Finally, consuming more oil is not what will help us stay healthier, fitter, and happier during our busy days on the go. The World Health Organization estimates that Americans consume an average of 300 to 400 calories from oil every day.

Instead, we struggle to get enough of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains. Fewer than 5 percent of Americans get sufficient fiber, fewer than 2 percent get enough potassium, and not even 10 percent eat enough fruits and vegetables.

So those are the things we want in our snacks.

An oily thought experiment

Think through this scenario with us. On the verge of blending a smoothie including banana, avocado, unsweetened almond milk, and walnuts, what happens if we add a tablespoon of oil? Does our concoction get healthier?

Remember, we already have great mono- and polyunsaturated fats included from the walnuts and ‘cado. Does oil make it healthier, then? Debatable.

If we instead asked if adding blueberries or kale to the same smoothie would make it healthier, that’s a no-brainer “yes.” Those are unquestionably #actuallyhealthy ingredients. And those are what we want in our snacks, and why airfare is in business to help.

Stay healthy, all. Skip the oil, and enjoy the football.