The Cooler Choice – Cold Pressed Oils

by with No Comment Food for Thought

It’s an every day every household scenario…browsing through a bustling supermarket or trusty and familiar neighbourhood kirana shop. Looking at shelves with bright eye-catching bottles in gold, yellow, green, red and more; packets that make lofty promises of healthy hearts and fitter lifestyles. Run of the mill shopping for daily staples can be quite an adventure too!

When it comes to oil – something our kitchens can’t really run without – we are all spoilt for choice nowadays. But as with many things, the easiest choice may not be the right one for you and your body. Refined oils line the shelves these days made with a plethora of different ingredients. It can be convenient, and yes sometimes cheaper to grab a pack on the go, but is the actual cost worth it?

Cold pressed oils (actually an age old traditional option) are again becoming increasingly popular for good reason; more so with a growing number of us urban dwellers facing the unfortunate after effects of unhealthy stressful lifestyles and the toll our many choices are taking on overall health. While cold pressed oils don’t work well for deep frying, if you are trying to eat cleaner and better anyway, why not check out what makes the best base for your recipes!

First, a look at the basics:

  • Refined oils, also known as hot pressed oils, are manufactured by using heat and high temperatures. The seeds used are washed, cleaned and ground at high speeds and usually mixed with dollops of (not so great for you) chemicals. This extraction, refining and mixing process tends to degrade the otherwise natural benefits of the oil and it’s source in the first place.
  • Cold pressed oils are extracted utilizing very low heating and a crushing and rotation method that does not involve the use of artificial chemical solvents. It is a slower, more organic, process which helps retain most of the natural nutrients as well.

While the minute nutritional details and pros and cons may differ depending on the exact kind of oil, here are a few starting points to consider:

Cold pressed oils

  • Free from harmful chemicals.
  • Pure natural ingredients.
  • Rich balanced source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids.
  • Contain natural antioxidants.
  • Mainly contain oleic acid, good for the immune system.
  • Often a good source for Vitamins E, K and C.

Refined oils:

  • Often mixed with nasties like bleaching agents and acetic acid.
  • Loss of essential nutrients due to high temperature extractions.
  • Often contain higher levels of trans fats, due to hydrogenation process applied to increase shelf life.
  • Often contain an unbalanced ratio of omega 3 and 6, which affects gut health and can also cause inflammation.

The next time you are working on your grocery list, do remember that your tastes and palate may be refined, but your oil need not be! And of course, always check for ingredients on labels and use caution and discretion with any kind of oil usage. An informed decision is always a healthier one.

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Stay tuned for more tips, tricks and recipes to add spice to your everyday!