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Frequently Asked Questions: |
1.
Which oil is best for health?
2. What is the importance of fat in the diet?
3. What is hydrogenation and why is it used by
food industry?
4. Comparison of Fatty acids in different
edible oils.
5. What is cholesterol? Does edible oil contain
cholesterol?
6. Tips to stay healthy |
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Q1. Which oil is best for health?
Ans1. Every oil is different in properties and is
used for their different taste. Refined oils are light in
nature whereas Mustard oil is pungent and healthy in nature.
According to recent study by Harvard School of medicine,
AIIMS, Delhi and St. John Hospital, Bangalore found that
chances of heart disease drop by nearly 70% on use of
Mustard oil as a cooking medium. Three decades back, oil was
not refined and generally mustard oil was consumed by most
households. That time heart diseases were less compared to
every growing heart ailments now. Mustard oil is regarded as
one of the healthiest cooking oils. For more information
please click here. |
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Q2. What is the importance of fat in the diet?
Ans2. Fats and oils provide essential nutrients
in human diet. They provide the most concentrated source of
energy of any foodstuff, supply essential fatty acids,
contribute greatly to the feeling of satiety after eating,
are carriers for fat soluble vitamins, and serve to make
foods more palatable. The principal sources of fat in the
diet are meats, dairy products, poultry, fish, nuts, and
vegetable fats and oils. Most vegetables and fruits consumed
as such contain only small amounts of fat. |
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Q3. What is hydrogenation and why is it used by
food industry?
Ans3. Hydrogenation is the process by which
hydrogen is added directly to points of unsaturation in the
fatty acids. Hydrogenation of fats has developed as a result
of the need to (1) convert liquid oils to the semi-solid
form for greater utility in certain food uses and (2)
increase the oxidative and thermal stability of the fat or
oil. Hydrogenation is an extremely important process as far
as our food supply is concerned, because this processing
imparts the desired stability and other properties to many
edible oil products. Vanaspati Ghee is made by hydrogenating
edible oil |
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Q4. Comparison of Fatty acids in different edible oils.
Ans4. Table below shows Mustard oil as a clear
winner amongst edible oils |
| Comparison
of Fatty Acid available in different Edible Oils |
Fats/Oil
|
Saturated Fatty Acid (SFA) |
Mono-unsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA) |
Linoleic Fatty Acid (PUFA),
Omega 3 |
Alpha-Linolenic Fatty Acid (PUFA),
Omega 6 |
Ratio of N3/N6 |
Predominant Fatty Acid |
|
Mustard |
8 |
70 |
12 |
10 |
6:5 |
MUFA |
|
Soyabean |
15 |
27 |
53 |
5 |
10.6:1 |
PUFA |
|
Palm Oil |
45 |
44 |
10 |
<0.5 |
20:1 |
SFA+MUFA |
| Red
Palm |
50 |
40 |
9 |
<0.5 |
18:1 |
SFA+MUFA |
|
Groundnut |
24 |
50 |
25 |
<0.5 |
50:1 |
MUFA |
|
Sunflower |
13 |
27 |
60 |
<0.5 |
120:1 |
PUFA |
|
Rice Bran |
22 |
41 |
35 |
1.5 |
23:1 |
MUFA+PUFA |
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World Health
Organization (W..H.O.) recommends N3/N6 ratio of 4:5 which
is almost closer to mustard oil."
"For a desired cooking oil, SFA should be lower in content
and MUFA and PUFA should be higher in content. Analysis on
above data clearly suggests Mustard oil as the most balanced
edible oil for good health" |
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Q5. What is cholesterol? Does edible oil contain
cholesterol?
Ans5. Lipids are fats that are found throughout
the body. Cholesterol, a type of lipid, is found in foods
from animal sources. This means that eggs, meats, and
whole-fat dairy products (including milk, cheese, and ice
cream) are loaded with cholesterol - and vegetables, fruits,
edible oil and grains contain none. The two most important
types of cholesterol are high-density lipoproteins (or HDL
or good cholesterol) and low-density lipoproteins (or
LDL or bad cholesterol). Edible oil does not contain any
cholesterol. |
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Q6. Tips to stay healthy
Ans6.
a. Prefer using mustard oil as a cooking medium
b. Eat a variety of nutrient rich foods
c. Enjoy plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables
d. Daily exercise is must for good health.
e. Daily Yoga and meditation will improve your concentration
levels. |
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