HEALTH BENEFITS OF TOASTED SESAME OIL Sesame Oil Intro. Making Sesame Oil Health Benefits Sesame Oil Quality Recipes Sesame oil is very high in linoleic acid, one of the two essential fatty acids (EFAs) our bodies cannot produce. Essential fatty acids are necessary for normal growth and for healthy blood, arteries, and nerves. They keep the skin and other tissues youthful and healthy by preventing dryness and scaliness. Recent scientific research has shown that EFAs also play an important role in regulating blood pressure, cholesterol metabolism, and the flow of biochemicals across cell membranes. Over all, EFAs are involved with producing life energy in our body from food substances, and moving that energy throughout our system. Since the advent of food processing, particularly oil and grain refinement, EFA deficiencies and imbalances are showing up in some people. Linoleic acid deficiencies include hair loss, skin eruptions, mood swings, arthritis-like conditions, susceptibility to infections, failure of wound healing, and, in extreme cases, heart, liver, and kidney disease.
Modern medical research has shown that the consumption of sesame oil lowers cholesterol and is beneficial for the heart and kidneys. In laboratory experiments, researchers at the United States Food and Drug Administration reported that a diet high in sesame oil significantly lowered cholesterol levels in animals.
Research in Japan has shown that a diet rich in sesamin, a natural phytoestrogen found in sesame oil, reduces the risk of renal hypertension and cardiac disease.
Sesame oil is also rich in oleic acid, the major constituent of olive oil. Unrefined oils that are high in oleic acid are thought to benefit cardio-vascular health.
Unrefined sesame oil contains an antioxidant called sesamol, which protects it from becoming rancid. Antioxidants are also scavengers of free radicals, which are known to cause degenerative disease. One study performed at University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Japan, actually demonstrated that sesamol inhibits the damage caused by free radicals on DNA. Sesamol has been used by the meat industry to help preserve the color and flavor of refrigerated meats. A Harvard Medical School study showed that mice with damaged intestines recovered much faster on a diet rich in sesame oil. Moreover, blood levels of interleukin, an important disease fighting blood component, were markedly higher on the sesame oil diet.
The effectiveness of sesame oil and sesamol as chemo-preventive agents with regard to cancer may go beyond their function as antioxidants. Researchers at Howard University's School of Pharmacy explained that the "potent" beneficial effect that these substances have on skin cancer in mice cannot be solely explained by the effect of free radical absorption, and they recommended further research.
At the very least, natural food quality toasted sesame oil must not be refined. Bleaching, deodorizing, and high temperature or chemical extraction of oils removes important natural ingredients, de-natures the natural colors and flavors, and often leaves behind toxic residues. Natural toasted sesame oil such as Mitoku's Hiraide and Takemoto oils are not only unrefined, but they also use simple, purely mechanical means to extract the oil from sesame seeds. This traditional technique not only results in a much healthier and more flavorful oil, but it also saves the environment from the toxic effects of disposing of strong organic solvents such as hexane.
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http://www.mitoku.com/products/sesameoil/health_benefits.htmlTwo Stand-Out OilsThe essential ingredient of the Mediterranean diet, olive oil, has been found to have beneficial effects on blood lipids and it may even lower blood pressure. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 60 percent of strokes and 50 percent of heart disease are associated with high blood pressure.
Hypertension is estimated to be the cause of 7.1 million deaths per year worldwide. A recent study has concluded that olive oil intake is “inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.” The bottom line: consuming more olive oil is linked to lowered blood pressure.Sesame oil — the most common oil consumed by Chinese centenarians — is enjoyed for its delicious nutty flavor and also possesses some considerable therapeutic properties.
Chinese medicine lists sesame as a blood builder, a kidney and liver tonic, and a bowel protector and regulator. It is rich in phytic acid, the antioxidant that may prevent cancer. Lignan sesamin, one variety of sesame oil, appeared to radically reduce cholesterol levels in the bloodstream and liver of rats. To benefit your health and enhance your meals, add some olive oil to your food and salads; sprinkle sesame seeds and oil into your dishes regularly. Some other excellent choices for oils include: walnut oil, flaxseed oil, and soy oil.
source:
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/1165/health-tips-about-oil-pros-and-consHealthy cooking oils
Groundnut oil/ peanut oil
These are the most commonly consumed oils in India, particularly in the rural areas. They contain heart-friendly MUFA that lower the levels of bad cholesterol in our body without lowering the levels of good cholesterol.
In the market, it is available in refined form as well as filtered form.
Although the filtered oils are nutritionally superior, they often contain toxic compounds or adulterants.
Hence, it is better to buy refined groundnut oils of reputed brands. This oil is suitable for all types of cooking -- frying, grilling, seasoning (bagar), etc
Olive oil
Although
more expensive than other oils, olive oil has many health benefits. It has mono-unsaturated fat and is the preferred cooking oil in Mediterranean countries.
Studies have found that consumption of olive oil can lower the risk of coronary heart disease by reducing blood cholesterol levels and blood clot formation.
Research has also found that olive oil may influence body fat distribution, with less fat stored around the stomach.
Olive oil is thought to offer a number of other health benefits, including reduced risk of some cancers (such as breast cancer), reduced risk of diabetes and, possibly, a delayed onset of complications in established diabetes.
It also contains many antioxidant phytochemicals that have many health benefits.
This oil is extracted by pressing or crushing olives and comes in different varieties, depending on the amount of processing involved. Varieties include:
~ Extra virgin: Considered the best, this oil comes from the first pressing of the olives.
~ Virgin: Comes from the second pressing.
~ Pure: Undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining
~ Extra light: Undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavour.
When buying olive oil, it is best to select the extra virgin variety. In order to get maximum benefits, olive oil should be used to prepare salad dressings, as a seasoning for soups, for saut�ing vegetables or for grilling.
All about olive oilSoyabean oil
Relatively new oil in India, soyabean oil contains PUFA, particularly linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the right balance, which are essential for human health.
Soyabean oil is suitable for all types of cooking methods except frying;
PUFA gets oxidised at frying temperatures to form toxic compounds.
How healthy is your canned juice?Mustard oil
This oil is traditionally used in West Bengal and is prized for its characteristic flavour (pungent and sharp). It is generally available as filtered oil; refined mustard oils are sold as vegetable oil. Mustard oil has a higher proportion of MUFA and is also a rich source of the PUFA.
However, it also contains erucic acid, a fatty acid that has undesirable effects on health when consumed in large amounts.Mustard oil is suitable for all types of cooking including frying, but should be used along with other cooking oils to reduce the erucic acid content.
Mustard oil is sometimes
adulterated with argemone oil, which is toxic. It is very difficult to tell when this kind of adulteration takes place.
Ricebran oil (recommended, i supposed?)
It is a relatively new oil that is extracted from ricebran and is gaining popularity in Asian countries like Japan, Korea, China and India.
It is not very expensive.
Ricebran oil is a unique edible oil with many nutritional benefits, as compared to other edible oils. It is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and has cholesterol-lowering properties due to the presence of a minor component called oryzanol. It contains natural vitamin E, which is an antioxidant. It also contains squalene, which is good for the skin.
It is the ideal cooking oil since has good stability (lthis mean that, like other MUFA oils, it does not decompose at high temperatures to form toxic compounds) and is suitable for deep-frying. Studies have shown that snacks prepared in rice bran oil absorb 12-25 per cent less oil than those prepared in groundnut oil.
Sunflower oil
It is a popular cooking oil available under many brand names. This oil is rich in PUFA, particularly linoleic acid that lowers the levels of both good and bad cholesterol. Hence, this oil cannot be used as the only cooking oil; it could also be used along with other cooking oils such as red palm oil or palmolein oil that are low in linoleic acid (you could use sunflower oil on one day and red palm oil the next day).
Much ado about salad dressingSafflower/ kardi oil
Available in the market under the brand name of Saffola, it also contains PUFA in the form of linoleic acid.
Like sunflower oil, this oil too should be used in combination with red palm oil or palmolein oil.
Palmolein oil
It contains MUFA and is low in linoleic acid, hence it is healthy to use in combination with other oils.
Coconut oil
Used as a cooking medium in the south Indian states and other Asian countries, there are many misconceptions regarding its use as a cooking medium. Coconut oil contains saturated fats that are different from those present in animal fats. Like other vegetable oils, coconut oil also does not contain cholesterol and hence can be safely consumed as part of a balanced diet, in combination with other cooking oils, particularly sunflower or safflower oils.
source:
http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2006/feb/21health.htm*several sources had say that though vegetables oils had benefits, they are still alot of calories present in them.
