3 cooking oils that help you stay healthy like nothing else can!

A necessary item for cooking and baking, oil is a classic staple in any kitchen. But which oils are best for handling the heat? You know you can sprinkle extra-virgin olive oil on bread or a salad, but is it the best cooking oil? With a dizzying array of options now on store shelves, choosing the best oil to sizzle your food in can seem like a more daunting task than perfecting the clean and jerk. It turns out that some oils are better for cooking than others. Instead of making you play a long game of "hot or not," this quick guide will help you with the three healthiest cooking oils.

Mustard oil is highly recommended for the reason that it is full of monounsaturated fatty acids which are very essential for our health - good for the heart, lighten skin, help in hair growth, prevent premature graying of hair, etc. According to a study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, including mustard oil in your regular diet could prove to be beneficial to your heart health, keeping a check on blood fat levels and helping in circulation.

Kachchi ghani refers to cold press extraction process for taking out oil from seeds. Traditionally, oil from seeds were extracted in kohlus (a wooden cold press used with the help of a cow). In this process, seeds are crushed at low temperature so natural properties, antioxidants and essential oils are retain in the oil. Raishakti is pressed Mustard Oil used for cooking.

Pitambari Rai Shakti mustard oil is made from the first press of mustard seeds in the traditional way, in which the best mustard seeds are slowly crushed in a temperature-controlled environment to retain pungency and natural properties enhancing the taste of the food. Its high pungency levels also help stimulate your appetite.

It is available in 200 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre, 5 litre & 15 kg sizes, and can also be bought online at http://pitambari.com/shop/

Sesame Oil

Sesame seeds are full of high quality protein and contain magnesium and other nutrients that help prevent diabetes & control blood pressure. Sesame helps lower cholesterol levels, because it contains phytosterols that block cholesterol production. Black sesame seeds are especially high in phytosterols. The high fiber content of sesame seeds helps the intestines with elimination.

Pitambari Saptashakti Sesame oil is extracted under low-temperature conditions using an expeller press in a process called cold pressing. This extraction method is popular among raw food adherents because it avoids exposing the oil to chemical solvents or high temperatures during extraction. 

It is available in 200 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre, 5 litre & 15 kg sizes, and can also be bought online at http://pitambari.com/shop/

Rice Bran Oil (RBO) is obtained from the most nutritious part of rice – the golden brown layer which covers the white rice. With a very neutral taste, it is very stable at higher temperatures and has a prolonged shelf life. However, its most notable feature is its high level of components with nutraceutical value such as Gamma-oryzanol, tocopherol and tocotrienol. It also contains vitamins, antioxidants, nutrients and is trans-fat free. Perhaps the only oil that helps lower cholesterol LDL (bad cholesterol) and increase HDL (good cholesterol), RBO helps the body fight diseases, enhance the immune system and fight free radicals. And yes, it is easier to clean up the dishes if the food is cooked in rice bran oil!

It is available in 1 litre, 5 litre & 15 kg sizes, and can also be bought online at http://pitambari.com/shop/

6 Great Properties of Mustard Oil That Make It So Irreplaceable

There are some ingredients that can never be replaced in the Indian household. Not only are they essential in creating various regional delicacies, their uses are manifold and extend beyond the confines of the kitchen. One such example is mustard oil.

It is hard to imagine life without a bottle of mustard oil at home. It is believed to have miraculous properties, and therefore is used as a remedy to treat cold, boost immunity, encourage hair growth, provide nourishment to skin (especially in case of babies who are massaged with mustard oil during winters and made to sunbathe for a dose of Vitamin D and also to strengthen the bones), oral health, so on and so forth.

Mustard oil (rai ka tel) is extracted from mustard seeds (black, brown and white), and is reddish brown or amber in colour. It has been commonly used in North and East India since ancient times, and comes with a bevy of health benefits.

1. Good Source of MUFA

Mustard oil is highly recommended for the reason that it is full of monounsaturated fatty acids. Our body needs oil in the ratio of 3:1 - three parts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and one part of saturated fatty acids. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) come under polyunsaturated. Mustard oil is full of MUFA which is very essential for our health. It's good for the heart, lightens skin, helps in hair growth, prevents premature graying of hair, etc.

2. Promotes Heart Health

According to a study done by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, including mustard oil in your regular diet could prove to be beneficial to your heart health. Being a rich source of MUFA, it lowers bad cholesterol in the body, thus keeping a check on blood fat levels and helping in circulation. The results also stated that the use of mustard oil, which is rich in alpha-linolenic acid, was associated with a lower IHD risk (Ischemic Heart Disease) than with the use of sunflower oil.

3. Protects Against Infection

Mustard oil has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties. Its external as well as internal usage is said to help in multiple ways to fight against infections, including digestive tract infections.

4. Helps Blood Circulation

According to Ayurveda, using mustard oil for body massage improves blood circulation, skin texture and releases muscular tension. It also activates the sweat glands and hence helps in throwing out toxins from the body. As such, it acts as a natural cleanser.

5. Good for Skin

Mustard oil is loaded with vitamin E, an essential nutrient for the skin. Therefore, when applied on the skin, it is said to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and acts as a sunscreen. Traditionally, in India, babies are often massaged with mustard oil. However, recent studies have stated that mustard oil massage should be done with limited quantities. Too much of it could prove to be harmful and cause irritation.

6. Relief from Cough and Cold

Mustard oil has been an age-old ingredient for the treatment of cough and cold. This is because of its heating property that helps in clearing congestion from the respiratory tract. Mustard oil steam treatment is often recommended as a home remedy, and you can also rub about a teaspoon of it on your chest before sleeping to let it work its magic. It is perhaps the very pungency that helps in clearing sinuses, much like wasabi. Another home remedy is to make a mixture of about one tablespoon warm mustard oil and two to three cloves of garlic and rub it on your feet.

Pitambari Raishakti Mustard Oil is extracted with best quality seeds, espelled by cold process to preserve its natural properties, anti-oxidants & essential oils, and is highly nutritive, rich in flavor & delicious in taste. It is available in 200 ml, 500 ml, 1 litre, 5 litre & 15 litre sizes, and can also be bought online at http://pitambari.com/shop/