Unveiling the Truth about Refined and Cold-Pressed Oils
When it comes to adopting a healthy lifestyle, one of the first considerations is the type of oil we use for cooking. With a wide range of options available, such as virgin oil, vegetable oil, butter, cold-pressed oil, margarine, refined oil, and more, it can be challenging to determine the best choice for our well-being.
Two popular choices among customers are refined and cold-pressed oils. Refined oil is produced by subjecting natural oils to chemical processes, aiming to eliminate flavor, odor, and extend shelf life. In today’s modern culture, refined oil has become a staple ingredient, with its demand steadily increasing. However, the idea of using chemically-treated oil in our food may not be appealing.
To make informed decisions, it’s important to understand the history, characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages of refined oil. By gaining insight into these factors, we can make healthier choices in our cooking practices and prioritize our overall well-being.
Exploring the History of Refined Oils : From Ancient Times to Modern Demand
Refined oils have a rich history that dates back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. These oils were not only used for lighting lamps but also for cooking and medicinal purposes. Fast forward to the 19th century, industrial development brought about a revolution, leading to a surge in the demand for refined oils. Over time, refining technology became more efficient and affordable, paving the way for the widespread use of refined oils in various applications.
Types of Cooking Oils
Refined oils have a rich history that dates back to ancient civilizations like the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks. These oils were not only used for lighting lamps but also for cooking and medicinal purposes. Fast forward to the 19th century, industrial development brought about a revolution, leading to a surge in the demand for refined oils. Over time, refining technology became more efficient and affordable, paving the way for the widespread use of refined oils in various applications.
Harmful toxicities of refined oils effects on body:
- Trans fat: The liquid oil formed is hydrogenated at high temperatures and it turns fats rancid, creating free radicals that cause heart disease and breast cancer, colon cancer. It is also responsible for weight gain in women.
- Additives and preservatives: The excessive amounts of addictive substances and preservatives in refined oil processing make it terrifying. It contains artificial flavors, emulsifiers, synthetic vitamins, colors, and sodium. This makes it difficult for the human body to digest and absorb.
- An unbalanced ratio of omega-6 and omega-3: Necessary for brain development and health, hormone production, nervous system health, performance, cell health, and more. Its full consumption ratio is 1:4 to 1:2, Unfortunately, refined oils contain ratios close to 20:1. Excessive amounts of omega-6 can cause several health conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis.
If refined oils are so harmful, why are they used in such large quantities?
- Long durability – longer storage is recommended as it has a longer shelf life than unrefined oils.
- Improved Taste – The process of refining the oil improves its taste and appearance.
- Improved Texture – Refined oils have a smoother texture and are better suited for dressings and sauces.
- Lower Cost – Mass production by low-cost refining technology. Efficient and affordable for customers.
Do you know refined oil can cause serious diseases?
Consumption of refined oil can cause several chronic diseases and multiple health problems as follows as:
Refined is cancerous: Nickel is one of the most important elements used in processing natural oils. This metal is highly toxic to health and can be carcinogenic in cooking oils and foods. Its use is responsible for an increase in cancer cases in tropical countries.
Refined oil causes digestive problems: Most manufacturers introduce toxins such as sodium hydroxide into their refining processes. It is completely unhealthy and can cause several problems such as gastrointestinal infections, tumours, cysts, and ulcers.
Refined oil causes cardiac diseases: during the process of refining high temperature is applied to it which removes all the important natural elements from the oil. And increases the amount of trans fat, which acts as a passive poison to us and causes multiple heart problems like a blockage in valves or heart attack.
Various respiratory diseases: refining preparation incorporates de-waxing, dying, degumming (The process of phosphatides eliminate from crude soyabean oil or other vegetable oils), deodorization (the removal of volatile ingredients and free fatty acids from crude edible oil using the steam-distillation method), and different other soluble base or acidic medications. All these methods are hurtful to us and diminish the chlorophyll substance, scent, flavor, and other supplements in the oil. It increments the level of oxidation and rancidity in oils. Extraordinary utilization of refined oil can appear unfavorable impacts on lungs well-being and makes it harder to compensate in maturing. Lung’s alveoli get gradually rustier due to the nearness of chemicals in oils and you’ll feel challenges in breathing due to the lessening of blood circulation to the brain.
Take Control of Quality: Partner with Cultivator Phyto Lab to Test Your Refined Oil Today
Cultivator Phyto Lab one of the states of art laboratories provides an excellent testing facility for your brand products as per compliance with national and international regulatory bodies, the following parameter can be used for quality control assessment of raw materials to finish products and self-life studies of products.
- Physical testing – Refractive Index, analyze viscosity, density, and color.
- Sensory analysis – includes analysis of oil appearance, odor, and taste.
- Chemical Testing – Nutrient facts, Vitamins, Fat Acid Profile, Saponification Value, Unsaponifiable Matter, Acid Value, Trans Fat, Cholesterol, Iodine Value, Omega-3 fatty acid content, Reichert Meissl, and Polenske value, Test for Sesame Oil (Baudouins Test), Test for the presence of Argemone Oil, Test for the presence of Animal Body, Fat in Vegetable Fat, antioxidant content and other testing’s parameters.
- Biological testing: -As per client and regulatory bodies requirement
Author : Teena Kanwar and Dr. Sanjoy Gupta