Oils have got a bad rap and understandably so. They can be unhealthy. But a lot of these fats, in their natural state of existence actually contain good-for-you ingredients that can serve well in elevating your health and it has been backed by sound science. Rice bran oil is a very good source of several natural antioxidants and micronutrients such as sterols, γ-oryzanol, tocopherols, phospholipids, tocotrienols, phytosterols, and squalene. It has shown to help with modulation of cholesterol, hyperglycemia, hypertension, insomnia, and other chronic diseases.So why all the bad press? It all comes down to how these oils are processed. Chemical and physical refining are two ways that oil makers go about eliminating contaminants andodor. These oilsare filtered, neutralized, or deodorized. But which oil do you choose?If you’re seeking an answer to which oil is good for health based on the refining process, read on.
A lot of mass market cooking oils are chemically refined to clean them up. It means the oil is purified with an alkali or treated with acid or bleached. All these processes warrant the use of chemicals like Hexane. That in itself raises alarms about the health hazards of these oils. Furthermore, in ‘purifying’ these oils by removing FFA (Free fatty acids) chemically and eliminating about 85% -95% of their natural nutrients, the goodness that comes from constituents such as Oryzanol is lost.In addition, these oils have little to no aroma, lack flavor and lose their vibrancy in color, doing almost nothing for the dish that it is being used to cook.
On the other hand, physically refined oils are subject to degumming wherein FFA is removed during the process of deodorization by steam as opposed to chemicals. The resultant oils aren’t overly processed i.e., they aren’t stripped off of nutrients such as Oryzanol, Tocopherol, Tocotrienol and Squalene, and Vitamins A,D, and E. Also, the quality of oils is much more superior, process-related losses are lowered, and their taste is retained. Not only are these oils better for human health, their refining process is environment-friendly in that they don’t need thesoapstock to be treated, reducing the amount of water wastage. Physically refined oil thereby comes out on top as the best cooking oil for health and lends some of the following benefits thanks to the presence of:
Oryzanol: Combats free radicals that contribute to cell damage owing to it being rich in anti-oxidants, meaning more supple skin and healthier cells; reduces LDL (bad cholesterol) and builds up HDL (good cholesterol).
Vitamins & Omega-3: Helps improve vision; makes bones stronger; aids in brain development and sustains the functioning of the brain; regularizes blood pressure; prevents premature aging; reduces risk of rheumatoid arthritis; regulates the immune system.
Typically, physically refined rice bran oil retains a natural golden yellow, while chemically refined oil pales in comparison with a much lighter hue so you can tell simply by looking. As a result of all the benefits, Freedom Healthy Oil introduced the Freedom Physically Refined Rice Bran Oil to deliver a wholesome product that can meet the needs of the entire family and their health. Make a choice to choose 100% physically refined oils.