Mr. Arunroy’s review was very helpful. I would also like to add on that
the effects of heating the oils, as we all do in Indian cooking, must also be taken into account. From my research on the net I have learned that soya, sunflower, safflower, refined olive , corn oils are not supposed to be heated to high temperatures. Groundnut and mustard oils were the only ones that could be heated to high temperatures.
Ref. The Saccharine Disease, by T.L.Cleave ; additional oils in our diet are superfluous in any case..We should consume only the min. AMOUNT of oil which can fill our ’appetite’. My experience since I started eating only when I am hungry is that I eat more amount when refined oil is used i.e. I overeat, whereas I eat LESS AMOUNTS when ghee, Sarson or groundnut oiLs are used. Please consider amounts while evaluating oils. (In a dal very less ghee is used to give a tadka as compared to oils. Watery foods require less oil than dry foods - even in a nonstick utensil)
Indigenous oils should be considered as they are best suited for OUR climate and OUR body types rather than those oils which are recommended by people/doctors/ researchers from OTHER climatic regions.
THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PHYSICAL EXERCISE!! We cannot think, ’’I will not eat according to my appetite/I will overeat/I must eat three times a day even though I live a sedentary life, I will not physically exert myself, I will live in stressful situations - BUT I will not fall ill because I use so-and-so OIL’’. I’m sorry -IT JUST WON’T WORK!!
I think Ghee is very underrated. The entire NorthIndian rural population used ghee and mustard oil in their food till hardly a generation or 2 ago. Heart disease, cholesterol etc have begun to increase only since the use of refined oils and ref. carbohydrates(incl. sugar) and sedentary lifestyles started.THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PHYSICAL EXERTION!!
TIPS:
To reduce your consumption - eat watery (tariwale) foods more.
Eat your salad and fruits before the meal instead of after. This fills your stomach and digests better.
Consume only fruits , juices, water or salad upto 12:00 p.m.
Add small amounts of raw nuts - soaked almonds, sesame(til), raisins to your diet.
DO NOT OVEREAT
*THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PHYSICAL EXERTION!!
All the best. I would appreciate comments as this is my first attempt at writing on MS.