A healthy diet can help to boost your immunity, providing protection from various diseases. For instance, snacking has increased considerably during the present time of WFH culture, not only at evening chai breaks but also in between meals. Making small changes in daily cooking can help in making your diet healthy. An easy step is to use the right cooking oil.
Cooking oil is one of the ingredients, which we certainly use while cooking almost every meal, it carries the highest calorie per gram. In fact, using the right cooking oil can make every meal a bit healthier. Now when we think of cooking oil, the first thing that comes to our mind is to reduce the usage of oil, however, just that might not be sufficient.
The right composition of oil
Cooking oils are fats, and just like protein, carbohydrates, and vitamins, are very important macronutrients. Cooking oil typically consists of 3 types of Fatty Acids: Monounsaturated Fatty Acid (MUFA), Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid (PUFA), and Saturated Fatty Acid (SFA). As per guidelines from the National Institute of Nutrition, healthy oils should have a good balance of all three fatty acids. Most single seed cooking oils available in India which we normally use, are unfortunately rich in either MUFA or PUFA.
Blending is important for the right fatty acid profile
A great way to get the right balance of MUFA and PUFA easily is to use blended oils. Blending is a scientific process that cannot be achieved at home by just mixing oils; the oils are carefully chosen in ratios that are scientifically tested so that we get the benefits of individual oils as well as the right fatty acid profile. These oils offer a lot of health benefits.
Importance of blending
Blended oils combine the benefits of two oils, to provide a synergistic effect, which helps to build immunity. It is also great for your heart health, as it helps reduce bad cholesterol (LDL) and increase good cholesterol (HDL). They also have a high smoke point making them ideal for all types of cooking (frying, sauteing, etc.). Some of them also come with LoSorb technology that helps food absorb lesser oil, keeping it light on your stomach. There are many options of blended oils available in the market, helping with heart health and overall health.