Our Grandmothers know the oils best. They have the finest understanding of oils. Grandmother always tries to inculcate good and healthy habits of oils in us. Whether, it is the habit of oiling our hairs regularly, or using the right edible oils as a cooking medium. However, with changing times, our habits changed. Our usage of oils also changed. Let’s study the changes undergone in the usage of Indian household oils in detail.
Changes in Usage of Indian Household Oils
In Indian households and kitchens, vegetable oil has been an imperative part. It is derived by crushing oil-seeds in cold presses that are driven by bullock carts and (/or) huge mechanical presses. Different regions of India manifest a propensity for a specific type of seed. The Northern and Eastern region cultivate mustard, the Southern region cultivates sesame and coconut, and the Southern, as well as the Western region, cultivate groundnut.
The Desi ghee (clarified butter) prepared from milk, is another kind of edible oil used primarily in the preparation of sweets and food for special occasions or festivals. Desi ghee has its usage from ancient times. Cooking oils are an integral part of the Indian diet. However, we get waylaid by a range of refined edible oils that are commonly advertised by proclaiming a cluster of health benefits.
Our grandmothers always recommended traditional Indian cooking oils, such as ghee, mustard, and coconut oil. They are considered healthier and far better than the modern-day refined or olive oils. The cooking conditions of India usually employ deep-frying. For such cooking, our centuries-old oils like ghee, mustard, and coconut oil prove to be superior to refined and other oils with better health benefits. The refined oils are subject to easy degradation and therefore, we should avoid them for frying. In contrast to this, oils with high saturated fats like ghee, mustard oil, should be utilized for Indian cooking, as they relatively remain stable while frying.
Traditional Oils and Our Health
For centuries, we have been growing various oilseeds such as mustard, groundnut, sesame, coconut, and niger seed. Following our ancient science of Ayurveda, the best oil for edible purposes is the sesame oil, though mustard, coconut, and groundnut oils along with being healthy have medicinal properties as well. In the past few years, our indigenous edible oils have been superseded by foreign refined oils such as palm, soybean, and sunflower. Exhaustive scientific studies of these refined oils delineated that these new oils are not just unenviable but harm our health, especially in Indian cuisine where they are mostly used for frying and picking. The study supported the traditional or Ayurvedic understanding of edible oils.
Scientifically, it is a proven and accepted fact that oils with a greater proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as soybean, and sunflower lowers both harmful LDL cholesterol and useful HDL cholesterol. In contrast to it, edible oils such as mustard, groundnut, and sesame oils, that are rich in monounsaturated fatty acids lower harmful LDL cholesterol levels without affecting useful HDL cholesterol and therefore are better for balancing cholesterol levels.
Whether it is the usage of oil in cooking, or applying it to hairs both habits changed with time.
Changes in Oiling Habits
Earlier our Grandma herself oiled our hairs and taught us to apply natural oils like mustard, coconut, or castor oil. These oils nourish our bodies. Our Grandmothers used forest essentials to nurture their skin. Many of the grandmothers know the aroma-therapy of essential oils. Essential oils are purest and have a rejuvenating effect. The older generation knew about forest essentials crafting, so as to derive pure oils from natural sources.
However, nowadays we mostly avoid oiling our hairs and instead of using natural oils, we use various appealing chemical products. We have validated facts that how nowadays products with chemicals are marketed with false claims and have a harmful effect on our body.
Go Natural As Much As You Can
The key to stay protected from harmful chemicals and other health deterrents is to again adopt the habits taught by our grandmother’s to use natural skin and health-enhancing oils. Even studies proved them as the best for health. I wonder how Grandma knew such science at that time!!!