Cooking with oils is a common element of meal preparation, and it adds flavour to a variety of foods. It can be difficult to figure out which oils are best – or worst – for you and your diet. Because there are so many different types of fats that make up cooking oils, it’s crucial to understand the many types of fats that make up these oils, both healthy and bad. Knowing which fats are beneficial to your health and which fats are harmful to your diet can make choosing cooking oils much easier.

Seasoning, tadka, frying, sauteing, and tempering meals with oils are all used in Indian preparations to enhance the flavour of the food. During cooking, the oil is also exposed to a variety of temperatures.

When determining the durability of cooking oil, the degree of saturation of the fatty acids present is crucial. Saturated fats in cooking oils contain only one chemical connection, whereas monounsaturated fats have a single double bond and polyunsaturated fats have two or more. Oils with a high content of monounsaturated and saturated fats are desirable, whereas oils with a high content of polyunsaturated fats should be avoided.

How to get the most benefit from cooking oils?

1. Oil is fat, regardless of the kind

Fats have considerably more calories per gram (9 calories per gram) than carbohydrates or protein (4 calories per gramme). Fats exist in even the healthiest oils, such as avocado and olive oil. Maintain a fat intake of 25-35 percent of total daily calories.

2. Choose olive oil

When used to substitute saturated fats like butter, olive oil has been shown to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (good cholesterol). It also has beta carotene, vitamins A, E, D, and K, as well as a variety of other beneficial elements. According to research, these nutrients have a positive impact on practically every biological function.

3. Saute instead of fry

Deep fat frying requires a lot of oil and is done at high temperatures, although it can be done for a shorter period. However, cooking foods in oil — or any other type of fat — stimulates the production of free radicals. Sautéing cooks little amounts of food in a small amount of fat in a shorter length of time. Plan your meals around foods that don't require frying. You can cut down on fat consumption by baking, grilling, or quickly sautéing your food. Also, keep in mind that any oils that are safe to use at high temperatures should be consumed in the smallest amount feasible.

4. Know the cooking oil’s smoking point

The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it begins to smoke, emitting hazardous vapors and free radicals. Varying oils have different smoke points due to their chemical makeup. Some oils are better suited to higher-temperature cooking. The higher the smoke point, the more refined the oil is.

Some Common Oils That Can Be Used To Cook Healthy Foods:

(A) Sunflower Oil (Sunflower Seed Oil)

It contains a significant amount of vitamin E, which makes it ideal for use. The fatty acids in sunflower oil are a mix of monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated (PUFA). Sunflower oil has a high smoke point, which means it retains its nutritious value at greater temperatures, which is presumably why it's so popular for deep-frying chips, samosas, and vegetables. Sunflower oil should be avoided by those with diabetes since it has the potential to raise blood sugar levels.

(B) Coconut oil is a saturated fat-rich oil

Coconut oil-rich diets have been shown to enhance total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in studies. Coconut oil also appears to boost HDL (good) cholesterol, and it has the added benefit of being able to withstand high temperatures. It's especially high in Lauric Acid, a fatty acid that can help lower cholesterol and destroy bacteria and other infections. When compared to other fats, the lipids in coconut oil can marginally accelerate metabolism and increase feelings of fullness.

(C) Mustard Oil

Has a near-ideal fat composition, but it's not great because it's high in erucic acid, which ranges from 35 to 48 percent. It's not a good idea to use mustard oil as your only cooking medium. Because of its high smoking point, it's ideal for deep frying.

(D) Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

If you use olive oil on a regular basis, you're getting monounsaturated fats, which can help lessen your risk of heart disease and breast cancer. This is due to its high monounsaturated fat content, which helps lower cholesterol.

Filtration of oil is also an important aspect that will help purify the oil. Oildok is a cooking oil purifier that removes the chemicals and impurities by 99% and is completely easy to handle and feasible. In Oildok one can also re-filter the used oil and it will be purified and safe to use again!

Living in a city we have become used to a sedentary lifestyle, hence choosing the right cooking oil becomes more necessary. Thus, it’s important to be practical and try to consume less oil due various to medical implications. So many advertisements about different oils are broadcasted about different cholesterol and heart issues, leaving us all confused and unsure. It is necessary to educate ourselves about food and oils that will make or break our health!

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