All of us want to live a healthy life. We should try to maintain our fitness when the world is struck by a disease. Besides regular exercise, a proper diet, and daily supplements are necessary to live a healthy life. You should know what you are eating, what is going inside your body, and only then can you expect good results.
Oil is an essential part of your diet. Be it grilling, baking, or not-that-healthy frying, you need oil to cook most of your meals. The bad news is, not all oils are good for your health. That is why it is essential to know more about the oils you use for cooking.
In today’s market, you can choose from a large variety of oils. These oils are mostly extracted from plant seeds (like mustard oil), vegetables (canola oil), and fruits (olive oil).
Cooking oils are of two types: Refined oil and Unrefined or Cold-pressed oil. So, what is the best type of oil to choose? To know that, we have to understand more about these oils.
Refined Oil
What is refined oil?
The answer lies in the word “refined”, meaning “purified”. It means that the oil is treated with chemicals to create a “purer” version of the original. It can be treated with acids or alkalis or neutralized and filtered. Refined oils are also deodorized or bleached, as the chemical treatment can create a rancid smell.
So this being said, do you think such oil is good for your health? The answer, of course, is NO. When the oil is extracted, the oil develops into PUFAs or polyunsaturated fatty acids. PUFAs are not bad for health when consumed in moderate amounts.
However, when this oil goes through heat, it oxidizes into trans fats. It is very dangerous for health. The rancid odor of PUFAs is then deodorized, again with chemicals.
Is any nutritional value left in such an oil? Simply, no. It might work wonderfully while frying or high-temperature cooking, but it just adds trans fat to your food. But why are trans fats so bad for your health? How does it affect your health? Here are some of its effects.
- Degrades heart health
There are two types of cholesterols in your body. Low-density lipoprotein or LDL is the bad cholesterol that can deposit in your arteries and can cause blockages. High-density lipoprotein or HDL is the good cholesterol that takes the bad cholesterol to your liver. Trans fats decrease HDL and increase the LDL level of your body.
In the long term, such a thing can cause heart attacks or brain strokes.
- Trans fats can often cause a risk of diabetes and an overall unfit body in the long run. Risks of inflammation and obesity are common among many consumers.
Cold-pressed Oil
What can be the solution to reduce the use of unhealthy Refined Oils?
Cold-pressed oils are the solution.
What are Cold-pressed oils?
Cold-pressed oils are produced by pressing seeds, fruits, or vegetables to extract the oil from them. In older days, ghanis were used to press and extract oils. Nowadays, it is done by steel press machines. This method neither uses heat nor chemicals for extraction. Therefore, it is a completely natural process and safe for health.
Owing to its natural process of extraction, it retains high nutrient value and is safe for consumption. Cold-pressed oils can be extracted from olives, coconuts, sesame, and groundnuts.
Cold-pressed oils are very beneficial for health.
- Contain antioxidants that protect cells from damage from free radicals.
- Good for the heart and kidneys, and also help improve the immune system.
- They are rich sources of Vitamin E and Oleic acid that are essential for the body.
However, most of these oils are not fit for high-temperature cooking as it degrades their nutrients. You can use them for cooking at low temperatures or drizzling over salads and preparations.
Buying cold-pressed organic oils might not be so easy either. With so many brands claiming to be “premium”, “natural”, or “pure”, it might often get you confused on where to invest. The wrong type of oil will put all your efforts in vain. What if the product is perfumed, or oil, or processed? You surely don’t want that. Worry not, here are a few tips and suggestions to help you choose wisely.
Frequently Asked Questions and Buying Guide for Cold-Pressed Oil
- Should you completely cut off refined oils?
Well, it will be good for your body if you do. But simply limiting your intake of these oils will be equally good. You can still use these oil for cooking at high temperatures, or frying. Two cheat meals a week hurt nobody!
- Why are Cold-pressed oils costlier than refined oils?
There are several reasons. Firstly, the source of the oil needs to be of good quality. Only good quality fruits, vegetables, and nuts are used to extract cold-pressed oils. Wastage costs are also included. Secondly, the production process is long and labor-intensive. Thirdly, it contains a high nutritional value. As they say, health is wealth. Wouldn’t you pay a few extra bucks for better health?
- How to know that your cold-pressed oil is authentic?
There are a few things to keep in mind while checking the authenticity of oils. Firstly, the brand must be trustworthy or have a stamp of approval for the product quality.
Secondly, check the smell and taste. The best product will have a fresh odor. The odor can be strong, but not too rancid or even like perfume.
Thirdly, know the market prices for oils. These oils are the most competitively priced. So step back if the quoted price is ridiculously low!
Still, confused about where to buy from? You can check out the oils from our brand Standard Cold-pressed oils (https://www.standardcoldpressedoil.com/). We have a vast library of numerous organic products, and you will surely find something that you like. We are an authentic FSSAI certified brand with numerous happy clients all over the country, and we deliver fresh and organic products to your homes.
Do head over to our website. We will be happy to serve you!