| NUTRITIONAL CHALLENGES DURING TREATMENT OF CANCER |
 |
Ms. Sonia Gandhi
Senior Clinical Nutritionist,
Fortis Hospital, Mohali
|
Lifestyle diseases are silent killers and as we continue to recklessly consume readily available food items, little do we realize the gradual harm being done to our body and life clock. As contenders of this competitive world, we fail to realize how essential it is to consciously take care of eating habits. Hence, in developing Indian society marked by sedentary lifestyle, arbitrary eating and sleeping habits, importance of cooking in the right oil becomes crucial for maintaining health. Apart from making the food delectable in taste, cooking oil provides certain vital nutrients.
One must understand that the oil is one of the most important components in a food to deliver the nutrient to our body. Edible oil not only makes food taste delicious but is also a rich source of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. If consumed in the right quantity and quality, it helps reduce the risk of heart disease, blood cholesterol, blood sugar and various other modern day ailments.
Presence of constituents like oryzanol, ALA Omega 3, tocotrienols, MUFA, Vitamin E and PUFA in edible oil helps to:
- Improve brain function
- Lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases
- Provide skin nourishment
- Decrease bad cholesterol levels and blood pressure
- Provide energy
- Protect certain vital organs with the help of fats present in oil
- Prevent atherosclerosis
- Improve immunity
- Improve eye-sight
Myths and realities of edible oils:
Myth 1: Comprising of saturated fats, it raises cholesterol levels and increases the risk of heart attack.
Fact: There are two types of cholesterol which most of them are unaware of. One is good and one is bad. Hence, certain vegetable oils are good for health as they reduce bad cholesterol from the body or increase good cholesterol level.
Myth 2: Vegetable oils contain cholesterol, hence it is bad for heart health
Fact: Vegetable oils have no cholesterol unlike animal fats
Myth 3: Saturated fat present in oil adds to body weight and obesity
Fact: yes, saturated fats add to body weight and obesity if taken in excess quantity. Consumption of oil in right quantity and with right balance of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids is vital to good health
|
| Right method of cooking with edible oil: |
Characteristics of oil change when heated. When heated above certain temperature limits, oil can become unhealthy and loose its goodness. Hence, while selecting edible oil, it is important to match the oil's heat tolerance with the cooking method.
Irrespective of being refined or not, quality of oils deteriorate due to exposure to heat, light and oxygen.
Most foods cook better in 162.78 degrees celsius to 191 degrees celsius range and develop a golden hue, crisp texture and delectable flavor. Foods cooked in this normal temperature range approximately 24 percent oil. In lower temperatures, frying time is not only longer but also results in less flavor generation and increased oil absorption.
"Ideal" cooking oil should contain balance in MUFA, PUFA and SFA and no transfats.
While we are bombarded with conflicting messages, here are basic indicators to help analyze ‘goodness counts’ while choosing your oil:
|
- Monounsaturated fats lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol) and increase the HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).
- Polyunsaturated fats also lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.
- Diet rich in omega 3 fatty acids may help lower triglycerides and increase HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol).
- Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to growth, reproductive system, brain function, vision etc.
- Presence of antioxidants like tocotrienols, oryzanol and vitamin E gives health protection from various diseases.
- Check for authentic refinery technology implemented by the manufacturers on the pack. Refining facilitates removal of Free Fatty Acid (FFA) by preserving inherent nutrients of oil. In this regards, European technology excels in refining oil by creating a unique combination of purity, taste and retention of natural ingredients through controlled temperature and pressure.
<
 |
|
| Copyright @ Medical Co. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy |
|
|
