Adverse effects of reheated oils

 

Cooking food by reusing cooking oil can also increase free radicals in the body, which can cause inflammation - the root cause of most diseases including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. High inflammation in the body can also reduce immunity and make you prone to infections.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF USED OILS

 

INCREASES THE CHOLESTEROL LEVELS

 

When oils are reused, the amount of trans fatty acids increases. The fats in oil change into trans fats when heated to high temperatures and trans fats are unhealthy fats that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

 

INCREASE THE RISK OF CANCER

Reheating cooking oils increases the presence of carcinogenic substances such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and aldehydes, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer and inflammation in the body.

 

INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE

 

The chemical composition of the frying oil used changes with time and releases free fatty acids. Repeated use of fried oil can result in compound toxicity, lipid deposition, oxidative stress, hypertension, atherosclerosis, and other health problems.

MORE ACIDITY AND INDIGESTION

Consumption of reused oil may increase the risk of acidity, a burning sensation in the stomach, throat problems, and other health problems. So, if you have more acidity than usual, avoid eating roadside junk and deep fried- foods.

How to reduce the usage of reheated cooking oil?

1. Switch to home-cooked food 

Home-cooked food is the freshest, and healthiest variety of food you can eat. Cooking food at home empowers you to decide what ingredients go into your food. From cooking oil to carbs, protein, fats and fiber, home-cooked food can provide you the perfect balanced diet you need for good health and weight loss. Make sure that you don't use already used cooking oil.

2. Cook food in small quantities

This is an effective way to reduce excess cooking oil. Calculate the amount of food you need for a particular meal to avoid food wastage. Cook fresh food as frequently as possible. Cooking food in small quantities can also help you practice portion control - which is a key practice if you want to lose weight.

 

3. Carry home-cooked food when traveling or going out

 

There are times when you simply cannot avoid eating out. But, you can definitely work on reducing the number of times you have to eat out. Meal preparation can help you in this case. On a day when you know you have to travel or not be at home or your workplace, carry your food with you. This will help you keep up with your weight loss diet and also avoid eating food that is most likely to be cooked in reheated oil.

 

If you have Alzheimer's, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or any other disease running in the family, it gives you all the more reason to avoid reheating cooking oil. It is going to contribute to more inflammation in conditions that are already inflammatory in nature.

SUMMARY

Oil is a major part of the Indian cooking style, and most households use it in their food. While the many health implications surrounding oil application are a story for another day, another pressing issue that concerns us is reheating, not just reheating food. Cooking oil has undergone a lot of scrutiny when it comes to reheating, and the conclusion that most studies have given is that it should not be reheated.