Why you should be using only Cold Pressed Oil
Posted By Healthy Buddha on Tuesday 16th March 2021
We’re sure you’ve heard about cold-pressed oils that are sitting on the shelves of several organic stores. If you think buying and consuming cold-pressed oil is just another fad, think again, because the nutritional quality of these oils is way higher than other oils. And no, their health benefits aren’t a myth.
What is cold-pressed?
Cold-pressed is a method of extracting oil by crushing seeds or nuts and forcing out the oil in them through pressure. Although a little amount of heat is generated due to friction, the oil is not subjected to any kind of external heat and consequently, the oil is known as Cold-pressed. It’s a method of oil extraction from oil seeds like sesame, sunflower, canola, coconut or oil. These oils retain their nutritional value, aroma, flavour and contain anti-oxidants that help fight free radicals harming our body cells. A good source of oleic acid, they’re rich in vitamins and known to reduce inflammation.
The many kinds of cold-pressed oils including coconut oil, sesame oil, flaxseed oil etc react differently to different temperatures, so be careful about the amount of heat they’re exposed to and their usage. Make sure you’re not heating them beyond a specific point. Refer the table at the bottom.
At Healthy Buddha, we house only cold-pressed oils and the oil range comprises extra virgin olive oil, virgin coconut oil and flaxseed oil. We also have mustard oil, groundnut oil and more. Cold-pressed oils can be used for cooking and dressings and baking. Cold-pressed cooking oil offers a richer flavour.
Advantages of cold-pressed oils:
The different kinds of oils have a range of benefits – they could be useful for your, skin, your digestive system and your overall health. Here are some of the top reasons you should opt for cold-pressed oils:
- They retain the healthy antioxidants that are otherwise destroyed in heat extraction method.
- The natural flavour and odour is retained.
- Most cold-pressed oils are rich in vitamin E, which is good for our overall well-being.
- They have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
- They are not refined, deodorised or processed in any way.
Cold-pressed vs refined oils
- Refined oils which are used most commonly in Indian households such as canola oil, sunflower oil, corn oil and others like soybean oil cannot be extracted through natural techniques. Since these oils are chemically extracted, they need to be refined, which aren’t good for our bodies as they are unhealthy.
- Refined oils when extracted give a higher yield than cold-pressed oil and have longer shelf lives.
- Refined oils are particularly bad for health - any oil that’s chemically treated is harmful to us. It may mean the oil was treated with acid, or purified with an alkali, or bleached. It can also be neutralized, filtered or deodorized. All of which require chemicals.
- These oils have several adverse effects on the body including impaired insulin response, increasing inflammation in the body and elevated blood triglycerides. When being extracted, these oils oxidise and turn into transfats which are bad for the body. One kind of oil that must be avoided are hydrogenated oil which is made by forcing hydrogen gas into oil under high pressure.
While cold-pressed has its own health benefits, refined, which is easier on the pocket have a longer shelf life. If you’re the health-conscious kind, you know exactly what to opt for.
You can purchase organic cold pressed oils from healthy buddha here.
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Ikyatha Yerasala
Smoke point for different oils
Cooking Oils / Fats | Smoke Point °C | Smoke Point °F |
Unrefined flaxseed oil | 107°C | 225°F |
Unrefined safflower oil | 107°C | 225°F |
Unrefined sunflower oil | 107°C | 225°F |
Unrefined high-oleic sunflower oil | 160°C | 320°F |
Extra virgin olive oil | 160°C | 320°F |
Unrefined peanut oil | 160°C | 320°F |
Coconut oil | 177°C | 350°F |
Unrefined sesame oil | 177°C | 350°F |
Refined canola oil | 204°C | 400°F |
Semirefined walnut oil | 204°C | 400°F |
High quality (low acidity) extra virgin olive oil | 207°C | 405°F |
Sesame oil | 210°C | 410°F |
Virgin olive oil | 216°C | 420°F |
Almond oil | 216°C | 420°F |
Peanut oil | 227°C | 440°F |
Sunflower oil | 227°C | 440°F |
Refined Safflower oil | 266°C | 510°F |
Tags: cold pressed, oils
