Happy new year everyone!
If you are like us, you are slowly recovering from the Christmas holidays and have started to find your way back into the daily groove of normal life.
For many of us (especially following a few weeks of full-on festive feasting) the new year brings new resolutions, diets and endless promises to get fit and healthy for 2019, but in the Kane family we believe that good health begins with a good diet, and sometimes it’s the smallest of changes that are the easiest to implement first.
Did you know that rapeseed oil offers a whole host of health benefits over other cooking oils? According to Natalie Thompson, an Accredited Practicing Dietitian from Natural Food Series, rapeseed oil can help support brain health; eyes, skin and hair health; it can help promote weight loss, help strengthen the immune system, supports better cardiovascular health, supports bone and joint health, and supports the respiratory system.
How is that for starters?!
The reason for some of the health benefits associated with rapeseed oil include:
- It contains the lowest saturated fat content of any oil.
- It is a good source of Omega 3,6,9.
- It contains Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant.
- It is high in monounsaturated fats (the good fats!)
- It is safe to cook at high temperatures with a burning point of 230c, much higher than Olive Oil.
What is Rapeseed Oil and why is it better for your health?
Rapeseed oil comes from the brassica family of plants, the same family of plants as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. At our farm we go on to cold-press all of our rapeseeds, which means that we press the seeds with a steel press; they are not pre-heated in any way allowing the oil to retain all of its flavour, aroma, and nutritional value.
When compared to other cooking oils, rapeseed oil has the lowest levels of saturated fat when compared to any other oil, including olive oil. Although we now know that there are some good qualities associated with saturated fat, it is still a good idea to keep an eye on our intake, especially if we are watching our waistlines.
Rapeseed is loaded with monosaturated fats, one of the good fats, typically found in plant foods, such as nuts, avocados, and vegetable oils, and when eaten in moderation, can help lower your cholesterol levels, reducing your risk for heart disease and stroke. Monounsaturated fats also help develop and maintain your body’s cell renewal, and comes highly recommended as part of vegetarian and vegan diets.
In cooking, it also can withstand higher cooking points to other oils a threshold of 230°C.
Here are our top 5 reasons why you should enjoy rapeseed oil as part of a healthy and nutritious diet:
1. It is high in Omega Oils and essential fatty acids
Rapeseed oil contains lots of omega oils and essential fatty acids which we typically find in fish or fish products. It is thought that these properties benefit brain health, acts as a strong antioxidant and is great for joint health too!
2. It is high in Vitamin E
Rapeseed oil is high in vitamin E which is good for the immune system, eyes, skin and hair. Vitamin E is present in a variety of other foods including nuts and seeds, leafy green vegetables, salmon and trout, red peppers and avocados to name just a few, but plant oils are known to contain some of the highest sources of this natural anti-oxidant.
3. It is Low in Saturated Fat
A single tablespoon of rapeseed oil contains 0.7g of saturated fat, less than half that of olive oil which has approximately 1.6g of saturated fat, and significantly less than coconut oil which contains an enormous 12g.
Since rapeseed oil easily has the least measured levels of saturated fat compared to any other oil, it is a more heart-friendly and weight beneficial choice.
4. It has a high smoke point
By choosing to cook with an oil that has a high smoke point, such as rapeseed oil which has a smoke point of 230oC, you not only guarantee great flavour but help ensure that nutrients are not altered or lost in the cooking process. A high smoke point ensures that dangerous free-radicals are not released as a by-product of cooking, this means that it can withstand higher temperatures without becoming toxic, unlike olive oil.
5. Our rapeseed oil are available in lots of different flavours and is easily available in your local supermarkets!
Our award-winning cold pressed oils are available in 11 delicious flavours, so not only are they healthy, but they are super tasty too, adding fantastic flavours to dressings, dips, marinades or it can also be heated and used in shallow and deep frying, baking and roasting, transforming simple dishes into delicious family favourites.
Choose from:
- Original
- 23ct Gold infused original
- Chilli infused
- Basil
- Lemon
- Thai
- Garlic
- Smoked Hickory
- Black truffle
- White truffle
- Black truffle and porcini mushroom
Our fantastic range couldn’t be easier to get a hold of as many local supermarkets, delis and butchers are now stocking our produce, and if you can’t find the flavour that you want close to home, then why not try our new Amazon page, just click here to see our full range of products and gift packs!
But don’t just take our word for it, we might be just a little biased, try this super simple recipe and see for yourself.
Given as many of our readers are giving Veganuary a go this month we thought we’d throw in one of our favourite vegan-based recipes, perfect as a main, a side or piled high on top of toasted sourdough bread!
Broighter Gold’s Lemon-Infused Mediterranean Vegetables:
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary leaves
- 8 fresh bay leaves
- 1 tbsp sea salt
- 2-3 tsp cracked black peppercorns
- 150ml Broighter Gold Lemon Infused rapeseed oil
- 100g cherry or baby plum tomatoes
- 900g/1.3kg of your favourite vegetables (chose any or all of the following; asparagus, courgettes, butternut squash, carrots, beetroot, aubergines, onions, corn cobs, baby potatoes)
Method:
- Preheat your oven to 180OC.
- Peel the garlic cloves and tip into a food processor with the thyme, rosemary, bay leaves, salt, peppercorns and oil. Mix well to ensure that all the flavours are well mixed together.
- Prepare assorted vegetables and tomatoes. Halve asparagus lengthways, cut courgettes, sweet potatoes and aubergines into chunks. Slice your onion lengthways then into wedges, corn into chunks and baby potatoes in half lengthways. Cut Slice your carrots and/or beetroot into slices.
- Mix the vegetables and marinade together in a large bowl and marinate for a couple of hours.
- Then put into your preheated oven, covered with tin foil until almost cooked (approx. 20 mins+ but cooking times will vary according to your choice of vegetables and their thickness) keep turning and checking to see if they are almost cooked then remove the tin foil and brown up a little before serving.
- Enjoy!
