What we eat and how we eat affects our health. The body is harmed by food that has been prepared with a lot of refined cooking oil. The proper quality and quantity of oil should be consumed, according to doctors. Oil that has been refined and altered using chemicals is harmful to us. In short it means to ‘purify’. But purifying has many definitions. It may mean the oil was treated with acid, or purified with an alkali, or bleached. It can also be neutralized, filtered or deodorized.
The seeds are first crushed either mechanically or using chemicals to extract the oil. Then, the extracted oil is cleaned with a washer mill after this it goes through more processes like degumming, neutralization, bleaching and deodorization. These processes involve high temperatures, the use of chemicals, and filtration, which can remove the nutrients and antioxidants present in the oil. Apart from this, trans fats are made by hydrogenating some oils, which are harmful to health.

Why to ditch refined oils?

The process of making refined oils involves several steps that can impact their nutritional value and potentially be detrimental to health:
1. Extraction: The oilseeds are usually crushed mechanically or using chemical solvents to extract the oil. Chemical solvents like hexane may leave residues in the extracted oil.
2. Refining: The extracted oil undergoes refining processes such as degumming, neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization. These processes involve the use of chemicals, high temperatures, and filtration, which can strip away natural nutrients and antioxidants present in the oil.
3. Hydrogenation: In some cases, oils undergo hydrogenation to convert them into partially or fully hydrogenated oils, resulting in the formation of trans fats. Trans fats are known to be harmful to health and can increase the risk of heart disease.
4. High-temperature processing: The refining process often involves high temperatures, which can lead to the formation of harmful compounds, including free radicals and oxidation products. These compounds can have negative effects on health and may contribute to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body.
5. Loss of essential nutrients: The refining process can remove important nutrients present in the original oil, such as vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. This results in a loss of the beneficial properties associated with these nutrients.

The consumption of refined oils has been linked to various health concerns:

1. Increased risk of heart disease: Refined oils are often high in unhealthy saturated fats and trans fats, which can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase the risk of cardiovascular problems.
2. Inflammation and oxidative stress: The high-temperature processing and removal of natural antioxidants in refined oils can promote inflammation and oxidative stress in the body, which are linked to chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
3. Nutrient deficiencies: Refined oils lack the essential nutrients present in their unrefined counterparts. Regular consumption of refined oils may contribute to nutrient deficiencies in the diet.
4. Increased calorie intake: Refined oils are calorie-dense, and excessive consumption can contribute to weight gain and obesity, which are risk factors for various health conditions.

It is important to note that not all refined oils are equally harmful, and some may be more processed or contain more unhealthy additives than others.