Prices for olive oil are expected to rise by 25%—here are 5 heart-healthy oil alternatives to stock up on.

Take heart: There are a handful of other healthy oils that you can use if olive oil is inching out of your budget or is not in stock where you shop.

Olives and the oil made from the Mediterranean diet staple are staples in the EatingWell Test Kitchen and in the kitchens of our editors. Indeed, olive oil was named one of the top nine greatest Mediterranean diet foods.

Aside from being incredibly flexible and tasty, drinking 12 tablespoons of olive oil per day (or more) has been associated with a lower chance of mortality from heart disease, cancer, dementia, and lung disease, according to a health study that we reported on earlier this year.

As much as we enjoy drizzling it into salad dressings, starting spaghetti sauces and crowning dips with it, blending it into soft cake batter, and presenting it as a herb-spiked dunking option for bread, the price of a bottle of olive oil can be difficult to swallow. Especially when you make a serious effort to find a responsibly produced—and genuine—olive oil.

And it's likely to get a lot more expensive to buy your typical bottle, especially if it comes from one of the three primary producing regions for olive oil: Spain, Italy, and Portugal. According to a recent BBC News story, olive oil prices may rise by 20% to 25% in the next three to four months as a result of this summer's severe temperatures and lack of rains, as well as production delays caused by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. For example, a 750-milliliter bottle of Ina Garten's favorite Olio Santo Extra-Virgin Olive Oil may increase from $40 to $50.

To be sure, practically every item in the store is becoming more expensive. In comparison, the USDA predicts that food inflation would average roughly 9% in 2022. So you're undoubtedly used to seeing your receipt total increase. But if you don't want to make the extra investment in olive oil right now, it's simply not within your food budget right now, or you're having difficulty locating olive oil due to a lack of supply in your area, there are several excellent alternatives that also provide some health benefits.

5 Heart-Healthy Cooking and Finishing Oil Alternatives to Olive Oil

1. Peanut Oil

According to Birmingham, Alabama-based registered dietitian and EatingWell contributor Brierley Horton, M.S., RD, peanut oil is high in vitamin E and resveratrol and is less expensive than olive oil. The latter is a heart-healthy antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. Because peanut oil has a high smoke point, it can withstand high temperatures in applications such as stir-frying, searing, and baking.

2. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil has a nutty flavor and is high in sesamol and sesamol, two heart-healthy antioxidants that research suggests may reduce the risk of heart disease, certain malignancies, liver problems, and other illnesses. Sesame oil also has anti-inflammatory effects. Try sesame oil in sauces and sautéing, or purchase a small bottle of toasted sesame oil to use in marinades and as a finishing oil.

3. Flaxseed Oil

Flaxseed oil, which is high in heart-healthy alpha-linoleic omega-3 fats, may help decrease cholesterol, according to studies. It works best in uncooked forms, such as dressings and dips.

4. Walnut Oil

According to multiple studies, ingesting walnut oil in raw or finished forms is associated with better overall heart health, reduced chronic inflammation, and lower blood pressure changes in stressful situations.

5. Avocado Oil

Avocado oil contains around 75% oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat. According to the FDA, avocado oil, like the fruit from which it is produced, may lessen the risk of heart disease. According to research, avocado retains its health benefits at both low and high temperatures, so use it in any way you would use other cooking fats.