What is Cold Pressed Oil?

Cold pressed Oil is oil obtained from low heat, mechanical pressing of seeds, grains and vegetables.  Unlike refined oils, cold pressed oils retain much of the nutritional properties of the material they are extracted from mainly due to the fact that they are made with low heat and no chemical solvents. They are extracted by pressuring the raw materials at room temperatures.

Since these oils are extracted at low temperatures, they do not have the harmful triglycerides that oils made from high-heat intensive processes are found to have. Several studies have found cold pressed oils to have significantly higher amounts of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants than refined oils. They retain the aroma and taste of their source adding flavor and character to the dishes they are used in. Cold pressed oils are notably free from trans fatty acids and high in desirable fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6. 

There are two ways to extract oils using the cold pressed method ;

Screw Press - This method uses a machine to crush the oilseeds and extract the oil. The machine may be a hydraulic press, a screw press, or an expeller press.

Wooden Press (Kachi Ghani) - This method uses a traditional wooden press to crush the oilseeds. The ghanis are made of wood and stone, and they are rotated by hand or by a bullock.

	Mechanical Screw Pressing	Wooden or Stone Pressing
Process	Uses a machine with a rotating screw to force the oilseeds through a narrow space, squeezing out the oil.	Uses a traditional wooden or stone press to crush the oilseeds, extracting the oil by force.
Efficiency	Relatively simple and efficient process.	Can be a slow and labour-intensive process.
Temperature	Does not require the use of heat, which can help to preserve the nutrients in the oil.	Can involve the use of heat, which can damage the nutrients in the oil.
Cost	Can be relatively inexpensive.	Can be more expensive.
Equipment	Requires a mechanical screw press.	Requires a wooden or stone press.
Scalability	Can be scaled up to commercial production.	Not as scalable to commercial production.

The quality of a cold pressed oil depends on the quality of the oilseed used for extracting it. Hesthetic uses certified organic raw materials in its US FDA certified facility to ensure that only the best quality oil is extracted. It's food grade (SS 304) stainless steel screw press ensures that the ingredients touch only a clean, hygienic and non-reactive material.

Research suggests that cold pressed oils can offer a number of health benefits.

Benefits of Cold Pressed Oil

• A study published in the journal "Nutrition Reviews" found that consuming cold pressed olive oil can help to reduce the risk of heart disease. The study looked at data from over 74,000 people and found that those who consumed the most olive oil had a 30% lower risk of heart disease than those who consumed the least olive oil. 

• A study published in the journal "Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention" found that consuming cold pressed flaxseed oil can help to reduce the risk of breast cancer. The study looked at data from over 3,000 women and found that those who consumed the most flaxseed oil had a 21% lower risk of breast cancer than those who consumed the least flaxseed oil.

• A study published in the journal "Dermatology" found that consuming cold pressed coconut oil can help to improve skin health. The study looked at data from over 100 people and found that those who consumed coconut oil had significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity.