%20(3).png)
A study published in the Journal of the Indian Medical Association has linked the alarming increase in the prevalence of Atherosclerotic Heart Disease (AHD), Type-2 dependent Diabetes Mellitus and Dyslipidaemia to the advent of refined vegetable oils.
Across the past two decades, a large part of the Indian population moved away from traditional oils like cold-pressed Mustard Oil and ghee, and instead gravitated towards refined oils. The main reason for this consumer behaviour has been attributed to the fact that these refined oils misleadingly promoted themselves as being healthy and heart-friendly.
The refined oils based their health claims on the PUFA (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) content of the oil – but nutritional research clearly shows that health benefits are not just about PUFA. What really matters is the type of PUFA. In refined oils, the high Omega-6 content along with a high ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 has a highly undesirable atherogenic action, that is, it promotes the formation of fatty deposits in the arteries. The PUFA profile of refined oils also causes a diabetogenic action, elevating blood-glucose concentration and thus increasing the risk of Type-2 Diabetes. Clearly, refined oils are detrimental to health.
The study also showed that the risks of AHD, Diabetes and Dyslipidaemia can significantly be reduced by switching back to traditional cooking oils like cold-pressed Mustard Oil and ghee. In fact, experts say that by rotating healthy oils like Mustard Oil and ghee, one can derive significant benefits in terms of heart-health, an enhanced cardiovascular system, an increase in good cholesterol, balanced triglycerides and lower blood pressure.
So if you are one of those consumers who was misled into switching to refined oils, it’s time to get back to grassroots – trust the ancient oils like cold-pressed Mustard Oil and ghee that have kept Indians healthy and fit for hundreds of years.