Oil is bad for health - Just a Myth!

Nowadays we have turned health conscious and look out for healthier food and drinks. In addition, we try to avoid unhealthy foodstuffs and keep oil in the first place on rejecting list. Is it really worth? No.

Why we need Oil?

Oil is nothing but fat and it doesn’t contain cholesterol. Although, oil has received bad reputation for causing weight gain, still it is needed for survival.

The body needs Oil for:

• Absorption of Vitamins -To absorb Vitamins A, D, E and K which are soluble only in fat.
• Brain Function-Fat from oil provides the structural components of cell membrane in the brain, but also of Myelin sheath, the fatty insulating sheath that surrounds each nerve fiber, enabling to carry messages faster.
• Energy- Each gram of fat provides 9 calories of energy for the body.
• Skin -It gives shiny & rounded appeal to the skin, a layer of fat just beneath the skin acts as body’s own insulation to help regulate temperature.
• Cells-Fats are the vital part of the membrane that surrounds each cell of the body.
• Hormone-Fat regulates the production of sex hormones.

Vital Organs-Provides a protective cushion for the vital organs, especially kidneys. Heart and intestines are cushioned by fat that helps to protect them from injury and hold them in place.

Why Sesame Oil is considered as the best of all?

Oil means Taila in Sanskrit. Taila specially means the Oil of Tila (Sesame), as mentioned in the ancient books in Ayurveda. The use of sesame oil for cooking is gradually becoming less in recent times and oil of groundnut and coconut, mustard, sunflower etc. have been brought to use.In Ayurveda, it is only Sesame oil that should be used for internal administration and for the preparation of medicated Oils.

Properties of Oil of Sesamum

Teekshna- Penetrates deep into the tissues

Vyavayi- Spreads throughout the body quickly

Sukshma- Capable of entering into minute pores

Ushna- Hot in potency

Kaphagna- Reduces fatty substances

Krishanam Brimhanaya-In lean persons it increases weight

Sthulanam Karshanaya-In obese person it reduces weight

Krimighnam-Kills Worms

Sarvarogajith-Cures all diseases if cooked properly

Jara- Delays ageing if used regularly.

The above properties clearly indicate that Sesame Oil can be easily digested and does not produce any harm to the body if cooked properly and taken in required quantity.

Nutritional Facts of Sesame Oil

Sesame Oil contains:

• 4.5 gm of fat but devoid of cholesterol. Saturated fat is less in amount and Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat is more which tends to lower blood cholesterol and prevents heart diseases. It does not contain trans-fat which causes block in the arteries.
• Phytosterol which can reduce the risk of coronary heart diseases by lowering blood cholesterol. Phytosterol reduce blood cholesterol by competing with Cholesterol absorption in the gut. Phytosterol may inhibit Lung, Stomach, Ovary and Breast Cancer.
• Omega 3 fatty acids which are essential for the body but cannot be synthesized by the body.It reduces inflammations throughout the body, in the blood vessels and joints. It can lower triglycerides and it is important for visual and neurological development in infants.
• Vit E that protects red blood cells and prevents destruction of Vit A and C.
• Vit K which is necessary for normal blood clotting and synthesis of proteins in plasma ,bone and kidneys.

Hence, do not avoid Oil completely, have it in required quantity. If you take 2 tsp of sesame oil (approximately 10 ml) it completes only 15 % of the daily value of fat. Add sesame oil in your diet every day, do some simple exercise and stay young and healthy.