Different Olive Oils in India and How to Best Use Them

We all know olive oil is a miraculous edible oil with countless benefits for your body from your head to toe. Apart from being a fantastic cholesterol-free cooking oil which makes it ideal for your heart, there are many more advantages of using it, one of them being cancer prevention. So, it makes sense to us daily, doesn’t it? But with so many different kinds of olive oil in India, it becomes confusing to choose the right one for your consumption. Whether you pick virgin, extra light or pomace olive oil, it all depends on your eating habits and your primary health goal. So today, let us discuss this in detail and find the perfect olive oil for your everyday diet.

 

Virgin and Extra Virgin Olive Oil

What are they?

Considered to be the purest and of the highest quality, virgin olive oils are packed with tons of nutrients required for good health. Virgin olive oil is one of the best olive oils in India which is obtained by cold pressing of olives which releases this greenish-golden oil. It is slightly bitter and has a strong flavour and aroma. It has a low smoking point which makes it unsuitable for cooking as it can easily burn on heating. 

How to use them?

You can use virgin oils obtained from olives in cold dishes or simply as a topping or as a dipping oil. You can pair them with your roasted veggies, toss your herbed rice or salad in them, drizzle them over sandwiches or dip any bread. You can also use it in your pasta or appetizers like bruschetta.

 

Pomace Oil

What is it?

Pomace olive oil is often considered to be of low quality as it is a refined oil. However, it is completely safe and equally rich in nutrients as any other olive oil in India. It is obtained through the chemical extraction of oil from the olive flesh that is left after the first extraction. It is pale golden in colour, tasteless and odourless and has a high smoking point. You can thus use pomace olive oil for cooking as it doesn’t burn as easily as its virgin counterparts.

How to use it?

You can use pomace oil to make a variety of dishes of your choice. It is a cholesterol-free cooking oil which can be used to prepare foods from different cuisines including that of India. Thus, you can very well make anything from simple tadka dal to mighty butter chicken and indulge guilt-free. You can also heat it to very high temperatures for deep frying bhaturas or samosas or for occasional baking, like cookies or cakes. Being devoid of any flavour of its own, it will not alter the taste of the dish and blend in seamlessly to give you all the olive oil nutrients.

 

Extra Light Olive Oil

What is it?

Extra light is an intermediate olive oil which gives you benefits from both virgin and pomace oil. It is a powerpack of inherent olive oil nutrients and has its aroma and taste like virgin oil, yet it can be used for cooking like pomace oil. Extra light olive oil is obtained through a special chemical refining process which makes it very light and healthy so you can enjoy your food without having to count calories.

How to use it?

Extra light is one of the best olive oil in India which you can use to make many different kinds of dishes including Indian foods. Food that is cooked in it uses only about 67% of oil which in turn makes your food quite light both on your stomach and for your heart. So, you. can use it for a variety of fares like pulao, parathas, tikkis and of course, pasta, salads and so much more.

 

Takeaway

 

With the presence of so many different olive oils in India, it may be hard to pick one that is perfect for your tastebuds and palette, but certainly, all are ideal for a sound body. So, now that you know what each of them are and how they can be best put to use, you can select one for a satisfying daily diet and healthy mind and body.

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Why is Pomace Oil Best for Indian Cooking

Olive oil is a wonderful oil, packed with numerous benefits for the entire body. It is quite expensive though, and buying and storing it can be a bit tricky. This discourages many from using it in their daily lives. However, all of this can be overcome by using pomace olive oil. But what is it and how does it benefit you? Let’s learn about it all.

What is Pomace Olive Oil

Olive oil is a Mediterranean diet staple. It is obtained from olives by pressing them which releases oil. This oil which you get through the first pressing, without the use of any heat or chemicals, is called extra virgin olive oil.

After its extraction, you are left with the pulp of olives which still has a lot of oil in it. Hence, it is chemically processed using hexane, to obtain more oil. This refined form of olive oil is called pomace olive oil. Although it is considered to be low-grade oil, it retains olive oil’s inherent nutrients which makes it an equally healthy oil for consumption. It is very stable and therefore can be used for cooking purposes too.

Properties of Pomace Olive Oil

●        Colour- Greenish Gold

●        Odour- None

●        Taste- None

●        Smoking Point- 460°F (238°C)

●        Photosensitivity- Stable

●        Gluten Free- Yes

Benefits of Using Pomace Olive Oil for Cooking

Despite being refined, pomace olive oil is highly nutritious which is why it is the best olive oil in India that you can use in your daily meals. Let us take a look at all the advantages of using this oil.

Health Benefits

●        Olive pomace oil contains high levels of monounsaturated fats which are good fats that help to keep your cardiovascular system healthy and happy. Being a cholesterol-free cooking oil you can easily use it in your meals without risking heart diseases like atherosclerosis, cardiac arrest etc.

●        Pomace oil also helps to improve the health of your brain and minimises the risk of stroke and diseases like Alzheimer’s.

●        It also helps to prevent many lifestyle diseases like obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and more.

●        Since pomace olive oil is packed with antioxidants it is also very good to reduce oxidative stress and ill effects of free radicals on the body. This works to decrease the risk of developing various types of cancers.

●        The anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of pomace oil help to fight many infections and inflammation which further contribute to keeping your heart and your overall body healthy.

Cooking Benefits

Apart from the obvious health benefits which you get from consuming pomace olive oil, there are many more advantages of using it over other cooking oils or virgin olive oil.

●        Being a refined olive oil, it is much cheaper than virgin or extra virgin olive oil which means you do not need to use it only for special occasions but can use it every day.

●        Since pomace and extra light olive oil are refined, they do not contain the substances which make their virgin counterparts light sensitive. This means you can store them anywhere without the fear of them getting spoiled on exposure to light.

●        You can even buy large cans of these oils as they do not lose their flavour with time so you can save more money as a smaller pack usually costs higher.

●        Both pomace oil and extra light olive oil can be heated without the fear of burning which makes them ideal for cooking food. You can even use them for deep frying or baking which require very high temperatures.

●        Since pomace oil doesn’t have any taste or smell of its own you can use it in any type of dish and even for baking cakes. This feature makes it ideal for Indian cuisine too.

How to Buy the Best Olive Oil in India

●        When you are buying olive oil in India, you have to make sure that you are getting an authentic product. The best and easiest way to make sure of this is by opting for a reputable brand.

●        Although pomace oil stays fresh and palatable for a long, you still need to check the harvest and ‘expiry’ dates of the product.

●        There are many olive oils available in the market, some purely olive oils and others blended with other cooking oils like safflower. So it all depends on your preference. However, if you want to take full advantage of the myriad health benefits which olive oil offers you, you must opt for pure olive pomace oil only.

Conclusion

Pomace olive oil is one of the finest cooking oils available in the Indian market that works wonders for your health. So, if you too want better-tasting food in your life without compromising on health, switch to pomace oil.

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Olive Oil Products and Their Benefits You Cannot Ignore

Olive oil has been used in Middle Eastern countries for centuries. You too can enjoy its deliciousness and gain its health benefits by making this amazing oil a part of your daily life with different olive oil products in India. Here’s how you can do so.

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This is your go-to guide to buying olive oil the right way.

Are you planning to go out and pick out your very first bottle of olive oil in India soon? Well, we hope you have a great time shopping for it! We do hope you have done your due diligence when it comes to the things to consider when it comes to buying the best bottle of olive oil? Well, if you haven't then you need not fret, because we got you covered. Read on to find out more.

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This is your go-to guide to buying olive oil the right way.

Variety is the spice of life, but variety in olive oil will only end up confusing a buyer. This is why it is important to be aware of a few tips and tricks on how to buy the perfect bottle of olive oil, particularly if you are a beginner. We have here your essential guide to buying olive oil. Read on to find out.

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Olive oil for hair? Yes, please!

There are so many reasons why olive oil makes for an amazing addition to your daily diet that they can seldom be counted on our fingers. The great thing, however, is that the benefits of olive oil or olive hair oil, in this case, are not limited to food.

 

Olive oil is versatile in the truest sense of the word, and nothing can demonstrate this better than the benefits it yields for our hair and skin when used properly.

 

Listed below are some of the best ways olive hair oil can be used for your mane to make it healthier and happier. Read on.

 

As a conditioner

Olive oil has been used for haircare for thousands of years, mostly because it seems to add shine, body, softness, and resilience to the mane.

 

Primarily consisting of chemical compounds like oleic acid, palmitic acid, and squalene they provide softening qualities as they are emollients.

 

The thing is that a lot of the shampoos, and conditioners in the market contain synthetically manufactured emollients, which is not the case with olive oil. Because of this, an oil like refined pomace olive oil seems to have a major moisturizing effect on our hair.

 

When used in the proper way, the best olive oil can end up making the hair softer and stronger. This is because the oil will end up penetrating the hair shaft and preserving moisture. Olive hair oil is notorious for adding shine to the hair as it has a smoothening effect on the outer cuticle of the hair.

 

A little trial and error may be required on your end to perfect a hair care routine involving olive oil, but when that is sorted you are in for a surprise.

 

1. The quantity

If you are a first time olive hair oil user, then start by just using a tablespoon or two for your first moisturizing treatment.

 

The place and the intensity of the end moisturization expectation will determine how much olive oil use will happen. where. For example, the ends of your hair won’t require more than 1 tbsp at most.

 

For your entire head of long and thick hair, a quarter cup could be enough.

 

2. The massage

In case of a dry scalp, massage the oil into your scalp for a few minutes. If you have an oily scalp though, you could simply massage the hair and the tips of your hair with the oil.

 

Once that is done, and if you have time, wrap your hair in a warm towel and let it sit for 15-30 mins. This will help your hair absorb the goodness of the olive hair oil better.

 

3. The rinsing

Before you shampoo the hair out, comb your hair gently with a wide tooth comb. This will help untangle any knots and make the post-shampoo styling easier.

 

Use a gentle shampoo, preferably a herbal shampoo. If you think the oil still remains in the hair, then do a second shampoo rinse.

 

Olive hair oil can prove to be a brilliant ally and help dry and damaged hair come back to its former glory. Using it twice a week should be enough for most people.

 

The olive hair oil audience!

Let us first get a few things straight; using any kind of oil for your hair might not agree with evry hair type and texture. This is because a few hair types tend to retain oil for longer.

 

The glass near the hair follicles are programmed to produce oil naturally which ends up making thin, straight hair oilier than coarse or curly hair.

 

So, keeping that in mind, here are a few hair types that do require some loving from olive hair oil.

 

Thick hair

Dry, thick hair makes for the best kind of audience for hair oils. These oils help keep the hair both moisturized and strong. If you have thin hair, olive hair oil will weigh it down. The bottomline is that if you already have oily hair and scalp, don't use oil on it.

 

Split ends

Split ends are everyone's problem but olive hair oil can provide a brilliant solution. It helps smoothen out the split and even burned ends of your hair. Massage the olive oil into the last couple of inches of hair prior to shampooing.

 

Processed hair

Hair that has been heavily processed like having been treated with perms, or bleach can truly extract a lot of moisture from a good oiling session.

 

Of course, a wait of 72 hours needs to be there between the treatment and the oiling session. In case you are using olive hair oil on bleached hair, ensure that you first apply some to a strand to make sure that the oil doesn’t stain the hair green.

 

Dandruff

Even though there is no particular cure for dandruff, the usage of olive oil has been known to decrease the dandruff flakes to a great extent when used regularly.

 

Start by massaging the refined pomace olive oil into your dry scalp. Now gently comb out the dandruff flakes. Let the olive oil sit in your hair for a bit before you rinse it out.

 

The bottom line:

Olive oil, as already mentioned, is a truly versatile product. Being able to utilize all these potential qualities can truly make a great way to improve your health, inside and out.

 

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Habits to Help on Your Weight Loss Journey

Your habits truly make a difference when it comes to helping you maintain a healthy and fit lifestyle. We understand that sometimes, despite the fact that you might be feeling that you are doing everything in your power, you also might find that you are not truly achieving your weight loss goals! But this can all change by cultivating the right habits. Read on to know more.

Of all the things that you might be doing to lose weight or lead a healthier life, knowing and incorporating a few habits in particular can help brilliantly. These habits are effortless ones that you can easily add to even your busiest routines. So reason on and find out more.

Water Is Your Best Friend

We are sure that you have heard many a health professionals or websites mention that drinking a glass or two of water, first thing in the morning, helps you lose weight! Well, we couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Drinking atleast 1 full glass of water, on an empty stomach in the morning will has proven to aid the process of weight loss quite effectively.

There is a reason behind this amazing effect! Water is one element, that will help increase the amount of energy you use to do a certain activity, for almost and hour post its consumption. As a result of this, the more energy you use, the more calories you end up burning. Another benefit of drinking water on an empty stomach helps reduce your appetite, makes you feel fuller and decreases food intake in people as well. Essentially, it helps you to NOT overeat!

Anywhere between 2-3 liters of water in a day, is going to help you on your weight loss journey and also keep you hydrated throughout!

Pack Lunch

We understand that in this fast paced day and age, planning anything really seems to be redundant! But bear with us for a bit here! That takeout restaurant that you decide to order from almost everyday, might be a tempting option, but it really is not doing anything good for health! Have you ever thought of what all could be going into the food you decide to devour everyday? A lot of unhealthy stuff, that’s what!

So how can you save yourself from these unhealthy substances? Two simple words; Pack Lunch! All you have to do everyday, is to make a simple effort to pack your own lunch, as planning a meal will benefit you greatly and also prove to be an amazing catalyst when it comes to ushering in your weight loss goals! Remember, home-cooked meals are always better than those preservative laden foods you get from the markets/restaurants, since you know exactly what you are putting into your food!

High-Protein Breakfast

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, and with good reason too! It is what you decide to eat for your breakfast everyday that determines and establishes a basis for the rest of the day! Whether you will give into that craving of yours or you will stay happily and comfortably full till your lunch time, is all determined by the kind of breakfast you decide to have in a day!

When you eat a high-protein breakfast, you end up saying bye bye to those mid morning cravings that hit you daily, resulting in you indulging in something that would definitely not be great for your health! As a result of this, you also end up paving an easier path to your weight loss goals, since you are not exactly stuffing your face with anything unhealthy! There is also the possibility that protein might help reduce the production of the ghrelin hormones (also known as the ‘hunger hormone’), thus making you feel fuller for longer!

The Good kind of Fat:

The whole concept of weight loss seems to center around fat-free foods and the likes, but this could be anything but beneficial. Fats are an essential part of your diet and going 'fat-free' never did much good to anyone. The trick lies in knowing what kind of fat to use. Healthier fats like extra light olive oil or refined pomace olive oil can easily be used for cooking on a daily basis.

Shallow fried goodies too are healthier when made with low cholesterol cooking oil such as these. The right kind of fats will not only.add to your health but will also help maintain your weight loss goals

Ofcourse, portion control still matters, but with a low fat cooking oil like the Leonardo Olive Oil, you can seldom go wrong.

There is a reason why olive oil has become such a huge deal in the health industry and this is precisely why. And for all the fitness enthusiasts out there, extra virgin olive oil can become your best buddy when it comes to.helping dress up that gorgeous salad.

The Bottom Line:

All in all, by merely adopting a few simple habits in the morning and making them a part of your daily routine, you will definitely be able to achieve your weight loss goals in a steady and effective way!    

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