Oil is a fatty liquid that can be obtained from different sources.
Oil is the liquid and fatty substance obtained from the processing of different seeds and fruits , as is the case with soybeans , almonds , coconut or corn . The term has gone through a long history to reach its current form and meaning: from the Aramaic word zayta it derived to the Arabic term azzayt and then came to be interpreted as azzáyt .
Oil can also be obtained by pressing olives , derived from certain animals (such as cod , seals or whales) and obtained by distilling certain bituminous minerals or lignite, peat and coal.
It should be noted that oil is also synonymous with oil (from the Latin term oleum ), although this word is only used to refer to the sacraments of the Catholic Church or as part of the language of painting .
Fuel oils , on the other hand, are yellowish liquid mixtures derived from crude oil or plant substances (in these cases, we speak of biodiesel or biofuels). These oils can be used as solvents or as fuel for engines, lamps, stoves and ovens .
Oil classification
Oils can be divided, according to their characteristics, into virgin and refined . Virgin oils are obtained by cold pressing (below 27ºC) which preserves the flavour of the seed or fruit from which they are extracted, or by centrifugation at 3,200 revolutions per minute and filtration.
Refined oils , on the other hand, undergo a specific process and are deodorized. As a result, these oils have a clean appearance and a standard color, and offer better preservation.
In some cases, mixtures of virgin and refined oils are used, with the aim of adding flavour to the latter.
There are oils that are used as fuel in lamps, motors and other devices.
Its impact on human life
The human body depends in part on the fatty acids obtained by ingesting oil, since these are essential in many biochemical reactions that take place in cells and in processes such as the formation of connective tissue, the production of hormones, the promotion of vitamins, cell gestation and the maintenance of its organic compounds, called lipids.
It is known that people who do not consume enough carbohydrates look for the energy needed to maintain their metabolism in the reserve of fats or lipids; when there is a lack of the latter, as a last resort for survival, muscle tissue is consumed .
When essential oils are not consumed, malformations may occur and the nervous and endocrine systems may atrophy, with the consequent imbalance at the cellular level. If our body is unable to synthesize essential fatty acids, the result will be death or rickets . To prevent this bone disease, the help of vitamin D or ergocalciferol is essential, as it provides the bones with the calcium ion it captures.
Beneficial oils vs. harmful oils
It is important to distinguish between the types of oils that are beneficial to humans and those that are toxic and harmful. In the first group, we find fish and sunflower oils, which contain a higher percentage of the so-called omega essential fatty acids. On the other hand, rapeseed oil , which comes from turnips, contains a harmful acid, C 22:1 erucic acid , which can cause malformations in children and growth disorders.
Many Chilean producers used rapeseed oil for a long time, until various scientific studies warned of its high toxicity; then, its use was increasingly restricted, until it was completely removed from the market. Today, it is possible to obtain a rapeseed hybrid with an erucic acid content of less than 0.2%.