#BlogChatterA2Z2023

 Oil from the well of good health. 

I grew up on Postman refined oil and continued to use refined oils until 4 years ago when in the course of a health care programme that I was taking, I was asked to switch to cold-pressed oils.

Why the healthier alternative? 

The oils that we use to cook our foods are extracted from seeds, nuts and vegetables. When the oil is extracted through the cold-pressed method, it is done without applying extreme heat and therefore the oil retains much of its nutritive value. 

How are cold-pressed oils manufactured?

Cold-pressed oils are obtained by simply crushing seeds and nuts in huge cylinders using minimum heat.  The seeds and nuts are placed in a huge cylinder where they are rotated and crushed until all the oil is extracted. The temperature of the heat released does not exceed 49 degrees centigrade.  Oils extracted in this way are totally free from hazardous chemicals and preservatives. They are naturally aromatic, flavourful and nutritious. Some common cold-pressed oils include oil extracted from, coconut, sesame, peanut, sunflower, olive and mustard. The manufacturing process takes longer and the yield is lower as compared to that of refined oils. Hence cold pressed oils are almost 3 to 4 times more expensive than refined oils. Yet, it would be a good idea to include them in your diet and improve your health rather than suffer health disorders and spend large amounts of money on treatments. 

What are refined oils? 

The process of refining oil involves the use of extreme heat and chemical solvents like acid and bleach that strip the oil of all its nutrition. Refined oil contains polyunsaturated fatty acids which makes it unsuitable for deep frying as the oil turns to transfat, the primary reason for all our health problems. Greater quantities of oil are yielded when oil is extracted in this way but the quality of the oil suffers tremendously. 

Shelf Life:

 Regular refined oils undergo the hydrogenation process and are treated with harmful chemicals to increase yield and shelf life. Cold-pressed oils on the other hand are subject to minimum processing and heat and therefore have a shorter shelf life and lower yield. The shelf life of cold-pressed oils is about 3 to 4 months. 

Benefits of cold-pressed oils: 

• Oil extracted through the cold-pressed method is said to be more environmentally friendly because no additional chemicals are added during the extraction process. 
• Cold pressed oils are rich in oleic acid which boosts immunity vitamins A, C, D, E, Omega 3 and 6, zinc and potassium which protect the liver, and maintain cholesterol levels. 
• Cold-pressed oils are rich in plant sterol which enhances the health of your heart. 
• Topical application of cold-pressed oils to skin and hair does both a world of good. 

 

This post is part of the Blogchatter A2Z2023 challenge.