Question : Whether use of Edible oils is essential?
Answer : Yes, the use of Edible oils is essential & integral part of healthy balanced diet. It gives us maximum energy, helps to absorb fat soluble vitamins, produces hormones and maintains healthy skin, along with many other vital functions. But one has to be very particular about its, quantity and quality.

Question : What Quantity of oil should a person consume daily?
Answer :  According to guidelines issued by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad (a premier Nutrition Research Institute of ICMR, Government of India) every person should consume 20 to 30 grams of edible oil/fat per day . It can increase or decrease depending upon physical activity & physiological status. Moreover, while consuming oil, it advised that oil may not be used more than twice.

Question : Which Cooking oil is good for complete health?
Answer : Scientists point out that no single oil has the best Anti-oxidant profile to keep the body healthy. Though manufacturers of Edible oils claim that their particular Cooking oil is beneficial to health and is good at controlling cardiac diseases. Although Cooking oils are very similar in their calorie content but the nutrient content, Saturated fat, Monounsaturated fat, and Polyunsaturated fat varies quite significantly from one Oil to the other.

Question : Why should we change/rotate Cooking oils?
Answer : There are many healthy Cooking oils but no single oil is complete for our Body requirements. Beyond the fat contents of oils, some of them are good sources of Vitamins & Antioxidants and all needed Omegas. changing/rotating different oils for obtaining a favourable combination of fatty acids, vitamins, Antioxidants and Omegas to derive the maximum health benefits.

Question : If we change/rotate our cooking oils, will it affect the taste of the food?
Answer : No. No refined oil has its own taste or flavor which adds to our food. It only imparts the taste of the spices and herbs that we add in our cooking. So changing/rotating of Cooking oils have no bearing on the taste of the food we prepare.

Question : Which is the best practice, blending or changing/rotating of Cooking oils?
Answer : It is recommended to use combination of oils to derive varied health benefits. Each oil has different Smoke point. In blended oil, if we cook at higher temperature, the oil with lower Smoke point will break down chemically early and may become Toxic. Also no more than two Oils are allowed to be blended in India. Hence changing/rotating of Cooking oil is the most Practical and Economical thing to do.

Question : Can we adopt changing/rotating of Cooking oils against readily available costly Blended Oil options?
Answer : The choice of Oils for blending is important as they must complement each other in terms of the fatty acid profile and other physical characteristics like Smoke point for frying purposes. Rotating of oils is Economical, Safe, Flexible and Sensible.

Question : Some Edible oils tend to become viscous (Thick) during acute winters. Is it something to do with its Quality?
Answer : Edible oils which do not contain desired levels of Saturated fat (solid fat), as per the latest recommendations, do not become viscous/thick during acute winters. But Edible oils containing desired levels of Saturated fat are bound to become viscous during acute winters, which is a proof of it having required balanced fat composition.