Cooking oils made from rice bran, mustard and olive are a healthier alternative for the heart than other oils, AIIMS doctors said on the occasion of World Heart Day. Medical world has been talking about healthy heart every year and use of cooking oil remains prime and doctors recommend that cooking oil should not be heated till it starts emitting smoke as this leads to production of trans fats, considered unhealthy for the heart. But in reality do we follow this simple norm. Ages together our cooking has been confined to the knowledge passed over from one generation to other in the kitchen. Today changing life style emphasises on healthy eating but ailments too have multiplied that much that every food item has a question mark about its positive impact on one’s health. The time tested mustard oil is a good cooking option as it has less trans fats and a high smoking point and balanced oils have less than 4 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon and no partially hydrogenated oils or trans fats. Deep frying is good for pallet but harmful for heart because such oil content is mostly composed of trans-fats which one finds in street foods. One can have a healthy heart by following the Rule 80. It involves maintaining the sugar level (mg), bad cholesterol (mg), diastolic lower blood pressure (mm Hg), heart rate, and waist girth (cm) all below 80. Besides, maintaining an average walk of 80 km per month. In order to raise awareness against unhealthy food there is a need for awareness campaign, AIIMS also conducted a public lecture on ‘Eat Healthy to Save Heart’ on the day.
