Our health depends on what we eat. This means not only the kind of meat or veggies that we prefer, but also the oil which we use in preparation of our food. The usage of the right oil and how much oil you use in your meal preparation can make or break your health. Hence, choosing the right kind of fat/oil is important. It is even more crucial for people who lead an extremely busy lifestyle.
One of the oils which has gained popularity in the recent years is rice bran oil. Rice bran oil(gamma oryzanol) is extracted from rice husk and germ which is notable for its high smoke point of 232 °C (450 °F),longer shelf life and its mild flavour, making it suitable for high-temperature cooking methods such as stir-frying and deep-frying.
Here are a couple of health benefits which you can derive from the regular consumption of rice bran oil:
- Rice bran oil contains Vitamin E in forms (Tocopherol and Tocotrienol),which are natural antioxidants and help fighting free radicals, (free radicals are the dangerous by-products of cellular metabolism that can cause healthy cells to mutate into cancerous cells),as it helps to improve neurological functioning and balances the endocrine hormones.
- Squalene,antioxidant in rice bran oil, works wonders in improving skin health as it acts like a natural moisturizer, prevents the formation of wrinkles and delays skin ageing protecting the skin from sun damage.
- Oryzanol,antioxidant in this oil reduces cholesterol levels in your blood and liver. A low carbohydrate diet cooked in rice Bran Health Oil, helps reduce triglycerides, reduces the bad cholesterol (LDL) and improves the good cholesterol to bad cholesterol ratio (HDL/LDL) which is very important for heart health. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends rice bran oil as the best choice for improving serum cholesterol.
- Rice brain oil is hypoallergenic so will not cause any allergic reactions when used in cooking, and can also calm your allergic reaction system in the body, preventing hyper-sensitivity to other unusual allergens.
- Y-oryzanol, in rice bran oil, helps in curbing hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. A study titled Rice Bran Oil-‘The Age Old Oil’ authored by Maulishree Jhawer, Dr Enozia Vakil and Medically reviewed by Dr Simi Paknikar and Dr Nithin Jayan found that 90%of women who were taking rice bran oil daily found relief in menopausal symptoms by improving hormonal balance
- Rice Bran oil, in spite of having high calories and fat constituents, has the ability of controlling weight gain. Owing to its viscosity, the oil is not absorbed by food prepared in it. However, the health benefits and the flavour will be retained in the food reducing the calorific value of the food.
- No matter what the health benefits, rice bran oil is no different from any other food product which is beneficial for you and moderation is the key to getting the most out of it. NIN (National Institute of Nutrition) recommends 25 gm per day of oils and fats for adults with sedentary lifestyle while for individuals involved in hard physical work require 30 to 40 gm oils and fats.