Q: What are the benefits of cold-pressing oil by yourself?
A: It is the safest, freshest, most nutritious, healthiest and the most convenient to extract oil by yourself.
Q: What kind of oil is recommended?
A: The oil you press can be divided into three categories: for pantry use, as a health supplement oil and as a maintenance oil.
Pantry oil:
Camellia oil: High in Omega 9 fatty acids and the fatty acid structure is similar to olive oil. It is known as Oriental olive oil but it is more resistant to high temperature and is good for cardiovascular and stomach condition. The effect for external application is also very good.
Sunflower oil: rich in nutrients such as sterols, vitamins, linoleic acid, light and fragrant and high digestibility. High with omega 6, can be used with perilla oil and flaxseed oil to balance the omega 3 ratio.
Perilla oil: Highest in omega 3 and is known as "plant-based deep-sea fish oil", classified as a functional edible oil in the medical field.
Peanut oil: rich in fat, lecithin, oleyl alcohol, phospholipids, choline, vitamins A, B, E, K, zinc, calcium, phosphorus, iron and other elements. It is both nutritious and comprehensive edible oil. High in Omega 6, can be used with perilla oil and flaxseed oil to balance the ratio of Omega 3.
Black sesame oil: Particularly rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid. Omega 6 is high and to be used with perilla oil or flaxseed oil to balance the ratio of Omega 3.
Health Supplement oil:
Pumpkin seed oil: European men generally consume pumpkin seed oil, also known as the "man's patron saint". It is rich in plant sterols, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, especially zinc, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus.
Flaxseed oil: High in Omega 3 (Ω3); when the human body absorbs Ω3, three important nutrients, DHA, EPA, and LNA are derived within the body; DHA is the best source for supplementing the nutrition for the brain and eyes; EPA clear blood vessels thus lowering “three highs”, LNA acts as an antioxidant and anti-cancer.
Pine nut oil: contains lots of vitamins and unsaturated fatty acids, the content and ratio of unsaturated fatty acids are excellent. In addition, it also contains unique pimolin acid and unique HSB antiviral factor, which has the functions of enhancing immunity, anti-oxidation and anti-radiation.
Walnut oil: rich in phospholipids that may promote the baby's intellectual development. It is rich in vitamins A, D, E, unsaturated fatty acids and a variety of trace elements, which is easy to digest and absorb. The proportion of fatty acids is quite perfect, similar to breast milk; easy to be digested and absorbed, thus a excellent edible oil for children’s development, pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation. The acidity is less than or equal to 0.5 and the taste is lightly sweet and has no smell, which is especially suitable for babies' delicate stomach.
Almond oil: The total unsaturated acids (oleic acid and linoleic acid) of almond oil is 95%, which is the highest among all plant-based oils. Almond oil is rich in minerals, protein and various vitamins; excellent skin care and moisturizing effects and is suitable for all skin types.
Q: Some experts said that home cold-pressed oil is unhealthy, and can only be stored for 24 hours. Is this true?
A: Practical experiment: Put the cold-pressed oil at room temperature and it will not deteriorate within one month. If it is stored in the refrigerator, it can be stored for at least three months without deterioration, odour or discolouration.
Traditional experience: Before the invention of chemical refining technology 50 years ago, humans used traditional physical squeezing methods to extract oil and there is no saying that self-extracted oil cannot be eaten.
Q: Is self-extracted oil cheaper than commercial oil?
A: Commercial oil must go through the oil mills, branding, agents and dealers and retailing, etc. The indirect cost can be substantial. Therefore, commercial oil must be more expensive than self-extracted oil. However, the price is cheaper than self-extracted oil and it is reasonable to suspect that the oil need be mixed with low-priced inferior oil. Most of the self-extracted oils are far more cost-effective than commercial oil. Pumpkin seed oil is sold in the form of capsule health food and the price is even more expensive as compared to the self-extracted cold-pressed oil.
Q: Is there any problem with commercial oil?
A: It is almost difficult to find pure virgin oil in the market. More than 90% of the oil are extracted with chemical solvents (hexane). These oils may impose more health risks:
(1) Use genetically modified oils: Almost 100% of soybean oil uses genetically modified soybeans. The price is low and the oil yield is high, manufacturers have no reason not to choose genetically modified (GMO) soybeans that may pose the unpredictable health risks.
(2) Chemical solvent residues: Although leaching oil has gone through the six-off process, many compounds are added to the six-off process and these processes cannot remove all the solvent residues. Long-term consumption will threaten health.
(3) Production of carcinogen benzopyrene: the process of refining and hexadecenoic acid will produce high temperature of 260 degrees, oil products will start to deteriorate at a high temperature above 150 degrees Celsius and may even produce benzopyrene.
(4) Production of trans fat: High temperature and pressure are used in the process of refining and hexadecenoic acid, so that the fat is lysed and transformed into trans-fat.
(5) The deacidification process causes the loss of neutral fatty acids.
(6) The rupture of the cooling system may cause ammonia water to be mixed into the oil and turn into polychlorinated biphenyls.
(7) Mixed with low-priced oil: some high-priced oils competing with the competitive market may be mixed with low-priced oils; such as high-priced olive oil, peanut oil, and camellia oil mixed with low-priced palm oil or cottonseed oil, consuming more may cause harm to the body.
(8) Adding preservatives: The commercial oil emphasizes stability, does not deteriorate and can be stored for a long time. Therefore, a need of preservative is added.
(9) Adding artificial colouring: Commercial oils can be used to adjust any colour. For example, counterfeit olive oil is adjusted to green with copper chlorophyll and counterfeit flaxseed oil is adjusted to golden yellow.
(10) Adding artificial flavours: Commercial oils can be used to adjust the flavour of various high-grade edible oils.
Q: Storage of self-extracted cold-pressed oil?
A: Oil has four fears; light, water, high temperature and air. Therefore, avoiding these will be good way to keep them. A good example will be keeping in the refrigerator.