Cold-pressed oils: The difference

My series of cold-pressed oils articles has been put aside for a while. Before continuing with this series, I want to explain  what is in general the difference between cold-pressed and conventional oils. This is not important just in cosmetic use, because what we apply on the skin goes also in our blood system. What we eat It has also has a huge impact on our health.

Oils used in conventional cosmetics (and even cheap oils in the food industry) are not cold-pressed. They are produced by using heat in the extraction process and other chemical substances, which change the nature of the oil molecule from a normal trans fatty acid to an abnormal configuration that is literally poisonous for our body. This kind of extraction is very convenient for the industry, because you produce higher quantities (and it’s cheaper than the cold-pressed extraction), but the nutritional quality and the oil’s flavor are totally degraded.
In contrary, vegetable organic cold-pressed oils are extracted by squeezing the seeds in a big press. The oil produced by this method has no trace of chemicals and trans fatty acids.

The Cold-Press Process
Extracting oil through cold-pressing involves crushing the seed or nut and forcing out the oil. Presses come in a range of sizes, from small sizes for home use to huge commercial presses. The seeds are dropped inside a cylinder that contains a rotating screw. This screw grinds and crushes the seeds until the oil is extracted. Small holes in the bottom of the cylinder allow the oil to escape into a collection container. Although some heat is generated through friction as the screw breaks down the seeds, it’s usually not enough heat to damage the oil.

Regarding the quality of oils, their use and differences, I especially got knowledge through Dr. Johanna Budwig’s work.

“Her research has shown the tremendous effects that commercially processed fats and oils have in destroying cell membranes and lowering the voltage in the cells of our bodies, which then result in chronic and terminal disease.”

I have read her books and recommend them to you, but to illustrate you quickly about what I’m talking about in short I found this website where her work is explained. I didn’t immerse so much in her diet science but I was more interested in the scientific explanation and researches about the differences between good and bad fats and the importance of using the best oils for our health. Here is a short excerpt from the mentioned article about Dr.Budwig’s  science:

“Without the proper metabolism of fats in our bodies every vital function and every organ is affected. This includes the generation of new life and new cells. Our bodies produce over 500 million new cells daily. Dr Budwig points out that in growing new cells, there is a dipolarity between the electrically positive nucleus and the electrically negative cell membrane with it’s high unsaturated fatty acids. During cell division the cell and new daughter cell must contain enough electron rich fatty acids in the cells surface area to divide off completely from the old cell. When this process is interrupted the body begins to die. In essence, these commercially processed fats and oils are shutting down the electrical field of the cells allowing chronic and terminal diseases to take hold of our bodies.”

This is a short note for all of you who also care of your body inside and not just outside. I’m a firm believer that the beauty is first located inside of us – in body, mind and spirit – and consequently reflects outside. The ritual of celebrating our outer beauty should be the harmonious answer to honoring even our inside beauty. Eating food that is alive (= from nature and healthy grown) is one of the best ways to start taking care of our inside.

Do you like/use cold-pressed oils? Why and which ones?