Refined oil is the processed form of natural oil, which is obtained after treating natural oils with numerous chemicals to fulfill the consumer’s expectations such as odor-free and flavor-free oil along with a long shelf life. For this, the oils are subjected to a hydrogenation process in which liquid unsaturated fat is turned into solid fat by adding hydrogen to it resulting in excess production of transfat (which is known to increase LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and reduces beneficial HDL cholesterol) in the oil which has an adverse effect. In the process of extraction – high heat, pressure, and chemical solvents are used. Thus the oils oxidize and become bad and drop many or their entire properties. This renders them toxic. Regular consumption of refined oil may lead to cancer, diabetes, gastrointestinal disease, obesity and immune dysfunction.
Cold Pressed Sesame oil is rich in antioxidants and is rich in omega fatty acids that are good for the heart. Cold pressed Sesame oil adds a delicious and nutty flavor to our pickle. Nowadays the growing tendency is consumers are choosing cold-pressed oils and staying away from regular/refined oils to maintain their health. Cold pressing does not engross an overload amount of heat or chemical solvents, cold-pressed oils preserve their original flavor, taste, odor, and nutritional value. On the other hand, regular refined oils are extracted by using high temperatures and treated with chemical solvents that debase their flavor, tang, and nutritional composition.
To make refined oil come out attractive, it is processed to do away with gums (a thick layer that forms in the oil) and then treat it further with acetic acid, hexane or bleaching soda. When external heat is applied it wipes out all the nutrients. Cold-pressed oil is extracted and processed at lower temperature and hence it does not alter the properties of the oil, which contains a higher phenolic and nutrient content than expeller-pressed oil. Oilseeds are just pressed (crushed) to yield out the oil and nothing else. Cold pressing is more costly as it takes extended time and churn out lower yields – but it is the safest and normal extraction method.
Cold-pressed oils are rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamin E, K, C, and other healthy fats. Thus, consumption of cold-pressed oils is considered safe and healthy and is highly recommended as an alternative to cooking. Besides they also contain zinc and potassium and bioflavonoid. Pickles made with cold-pressed oil have a natural flavor and taste. This is because the flavor and aroma are not vanished due to heat during extraction. Cold-pressed oils are a rich resource of oleic acids and help boost the immune system. The antioxidants in cold pressed oils avoid free radical damage.
To boost refined oils yield capacity and shelf-life, the oils are treated with harmful chemicals. They go through hydrogenation procedure. On the other hand, since cold-pressed oils are unfiltered and simply processed, they have a shorter shelf-life and generate a lower yield. For this reason, hot-pressed or ordinary oils are comparatively cheaper than cold-pressed oils with superior quality.
The oil undergoes multistep refining process which makes the oil as flavorless and nutrient less as possible; all this is done in the name of increasing shelf life and appearance of the oil. The process removes impurities of the cooking oil. It is the elimination of natural gums, waxes found naturally in vegetable oil. Some oils require the use of phosphoric acid for degumming. These highly harmful acids destroy nutrients and alter the pH of the oil. These impurities are removed by treating the oil with alkali like caustic soda. This method makes the refined oil have neutral pH. Sunflower, soya, groundnut etc., oils look the same because they have been bleached. This means color pigments like carotenoids and chlorophylls have gone. Carotenoids are antioxidants that protect us from oxidative stress and help fight against cancer. All these are lost owing to bleaching. The most important reason of bleaching is the elimination of colored materials in the oil. None of the refined oils solidify. Ordinary unfiltered oils will have fatty acids and waxes that will start forming crystals at lower temperatures. They are eliminated because on the supermarket aisle they may make the oil look cloudy at lower temperatures. The deodorization procedure plays a significant role in eliminate flavors from the oil. Now everything beneficial in the oil has been removed. The oil is then packaged and sold in good looking bottles to us!
The bigger problem with refined oils is adulteration. The groundnut/gingelly oil you are buying could contain as much as 70% palm oil which is available at a much cheaper price. Although many may think they are getting refined groundnut oil/gingelly oil at a decent price, but end up buying adulterated palm oil at double the price! The only way to avoid consumption of nutritionally deficient, adulterated, probably carcinogenic, flavorless, colorless oil is to buy cold pressed oils. The more you filter the more nutrition is lost.
DOES YOUR FAVORITE INDIAN PICKLE USE GOOD QUALITY OIL AND NO PRESERVATIVES? FIND OUT NOW…
How hygienic are the ingredients in your much loved store-bought Indian pickle? However, we are now in the new world where brands have to take up maximum shelf space and companies want to cut costs by easing up on quality of oil, or speed up manufacturing time by not permitting time for fermentation.
Sesame oil and Mustard oil are traditional oils. The nontraditionally used Middle categories are Rice Bran oil and Peanut oil. The well-known pickle brand Priya use Rice Bran oil in almost all their pickles. Many famous brands have cut costs by using highly refined oils like Corn oil, Cotton seed oil etc., The Surati Brand uses refined corn oil. Mother’s Recipe uses Cotton seed oil in almost all the flavors. How bad is Cottonseed oil? Cottonseed oil must be refined to remove gossypol – a toxin that protects the plant from insects. This toxin has also been related to infertility, liver damage etc.,
Choose pickles with the type of oil that you are comfortable with – for the health of your family. Oil plays a vital role on our health and cooking. However we pay less attention to its effect on health. Instead of completely shunning the use of oil, one should find ways to use oil in healthy ways. Switching to healthy cold press oil is one of the best options.
Today, adulteration in oils is a rising concern and poses a grave risk to humans. India’s top food regulator FSSAI, in a study has said of 4,461 samples tested,2.42% samples were non-compliant on account of safety parameters, which included the presence of aflatoxins, pesticide residues and heavy metals at a higher level than those approved. 1,080 samples were non-compliant on various quality metrics that indicate possible adulteration and prescribed standards of additives.
