Edible fats and oils 【Beginner】Good and Bad fats and oils.
There are various types of fats and oils, and each type has different nutrients, effects on the body, proper storage and cooking methods. First, I will introduce the difference between "oil" and "fat" and the main fatty acids in order.
\\ This article is recommended as follows //
- People studying fats and oils
- People who want to know the oils and fats that are good for the body
- People who want to know the fats and oils that are bad for the body
Contents
1. About "Oil" and "Fat"
"Fat and oil" literally means "oil" and "fat".
And "oil" mainly means vegetable oil, generally liquid oil at room temperature, and "fat" means animal oil, generally solid oil at room temperature.
2. About Fatty acids
Fats and oils are divided into saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids.
Saturated fatty acids
Saturated fatty acids are solids at room temperature and highly contained in fat.
Furthermore, saturated fatty acids can be divided into the following three types.
- Short-chain fatty acids (Dairy products such as butter. Intestinal bacteria make dietary fiber in the body)
- Medium-chain fatty acids (Coconut oil, palm oil, etc.)
- Long-chain fatty acids (Beef and pork fat, etc.)
Basically, saturated fatty acids are stable and resistant to oxidation.
Like other fats and oils, saturated fatty acids are digested and absorbed in the body and become energy, so it is necessary to eat them as food, but of course, excessive intake not only causes obesity, but also increase LDL cholesterol in the blood. As it increases, it causes high blood pressure and arteriosclerosis.
In addition, short-chain fatty acids are easy to digest in the body, long-chain fatty acids are difficult to digest, and medium-chain fatty acids are in between.
I mentioned the fat of cows and pork as an ingredient with a lot of long-chain fatty acids, but the body temperature of cows and pigs is around 39 degrees Celsius, which is higher than that of humans. Therefore, when it is taken into the body of a humans whose temperature is lower than that temperature, the fat hardens and can't be easily digested and absorbed, which puts a strain on the gastrointestinal tract and overeating remains in the body as visceral fat.
Unsaturated fatty acids
Unsaturated fatty acids are liquids at room temperature and highly contained in oil.
Unsaturated fatty acids can be divided into the following two types.
- Monounsaturated fatty acids
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids.
【Monounsaturated fatty acids】
A well-known monounsaturated fatty acid is omega-9 oleic acid.
Unsaturated fatty acids are generally easy-to-oxidize oils, but oleic acid is difficult to oxidize, making it suitable for long-term storage and cooking. It also works to regulate the cholesterol balance in the blood and improves gastrointestinal motility. It is also produced in the body from proteins and carbohydrates, but it is abundant in oils such as olive oil, rapeseed oil, rice oil, and avocado oil.
【Polyunsaturated fatty acids】
Polyunsaturated fatty acids include omega-6 linoleic acid, omega-3 α-linolenic acid, DHA and EPA.
Since these are oils that the body can't produce, they are also called essential fatty acids and must be taken from the food. The ideal intake ratio of the essential fatty acids is about omega 6 : omega 3 = 2 : 1.
Omega-6 oils are abundant in oils such as sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, and soybean oil, most of which are linoleic acids.
It is said that linoleic acid lowers blood cholesterol level and prevents heart disease when taken in an appropriate amount, but on the contrary, if taken too much, it causes arteriosclerosis and atopic dermatitis.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids must be taken from the diet, but they are found not only in vegetable oils, but also in meat, eggs, and legumes. In modern times, linoleic acid oil is often used in eating out and many kinds of processed foods. Therefore, there is no shortage in a normal diet. Therefore, it is an oil that I would rather reduce from at home.
Next, omega 3 oil, α-linolenic acid, is abundant in flaxseed oil and hemp seed oil, and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) are abundant in fish oil.
α-linolenic acid suppresses allergies and lowers blood pressure, DHA improves memory, EPA prevents arteriosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and ischemic heart disease, and improves blood sugar levels.
Unlike omega-6, omega-3 is an oil that tends to be deficient in modern diets, so you should take it positively.
The intake of α-linolenic acid should be about 1 - 2 teaspoons a day ! However, linseed oil and hemp seed oil are very easy to oxidize and are sensitive to heat, so they are not suitable for cooking. You have to sprinkle it on salads or dishes and store it in the refrigerator. Even though you got good oil, if you oxidize it, it will have the opposite effect, so be careful!
I made a simple table of fatty acids, so please refer to it !
3. Oil you definitely need to avoid
Finally, I would like to talk about oil that must be avoided. It's a trans fatty acid.
Trans fatty acids promote arteriosclerosis, increase the risk of heart disease, and reduce immune function. It also puts a heavy burden on the gastrointestinal tract and can cause skin diseases.
Some trans fatty acids are naturally found in foods and some are artificially made.
Natural trans fatty acids are found in cows, sheep and dairy products.
Artificially made trans fatty acids are margarine, fat spread, shortening, which is made by adding hydrogen to oil that should be liquid, and cheap edible oil processed at high temperature. Most of them have a higher content than natural ones.
Moreover, artificially made products have an extremely high risk of health damage because their molecular structure is unnatural.
In fact, these are already banned in the US, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, etc. It is a dangerous oil whose use is restricted in the EU, Singapore, South Korea and China too.
Currently, there are no restrictions in Japan, and margarine is sold normally, and mysteriously most processed foods such as sweets, bread, and cakes are used (due to adult circumstances. lol), so it may be difficult to avoid.
Of course, the ideal is to make everything handmade and not add extras, but take this opportunity to check the ingredients when purchasing food.
Summary
Then what kind of oil is good ? For heating, olive oil, rapeseed oil (other than canola oil) and avocado oil, which are rich in oleic acid, are good.
And to sprinkle on salads and dishes without heating, flaxseed oil and hemp seed oil, which are rich in α-linolenic acid, are good.
I would like you to have these two types.
※However, it is premised that the oils introduced are of good quality, that is, The correct ingredients, the method for producing is correct, the container and storage method are correct.
Please read this article for "The correct ingredients, the method for producing is correct, containers and storage methods are correct".
【Healthy oil life】What is good quality oil?
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