oil

The term oil has traveled a long history until it reaches its current form and meaning: from the Aramaic word zayta passed to the arabic term azzayt and then it was interpreted as azzáyt. The concept, according to the official definition, allows to name the liquid and fatty substance that is obtained from the treatment of different seeds and fruits, as it happens with soybeans, almonds, coconut or corn.

The oil can also be obtained through pressing olives, derive from some animals (such as cod, seal or whale) and be obtained from distill 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 the painting.

On the other hand, fuel oils constitute yellowish liquid mixtures that arise from the Petroleum crude oil or vegetable 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.

Oils can be divided, according to their characteristics, into virgins Y refined. Virgin oils are obtained from cold pressing (below 27ºC) that allows to preserve the flavor of the seed or fruit from which they are extracted, or by means of centrifugation at 3,200 revolutions per minute and filtration.

Refined oils, on the other hand, are subjected to a process specific and are deodorized. As a result, these oils have a clean appearance and a standard color, and offer better conservation.

In some cases, they are used mixtures of virgin and refined oils, with the aim of providing taste the latter.

The impact of oil on human life

The organism of human beings depends in part on the fatty acids obtained by ingesting oil, since these are essential in many biochemical reactions that take place in the 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.

People who do not eat enough carbohydrates are known to seek the Energy necessary to maintain your metabolism in the reserve of fats or lipids; when there is a lack of the latter, as a last resort for survival, the muscle tissue itself is consumed.

When there is no consumption of essential oils, it is possible that malformations occur and the nervous and endocrine systems atrophy, with the consequent imbalance at the cellular level. If our body is unable to make synthesis starting from essential fatty acids, the result will be death or rickets. To prevent this bone disease, it is essential the help of vitamin D or ergocalciferol, which gives bones the calcium ion that it captures.

Finally, it is important to distinguish between the types of oils that are beneficial to humans from those that are toxic and harmful. In the first group, we find those of fish and sunflower, where a higher percentage of the so-called omega essential fatty acids is found. On the other hand, rapeseed oil, which comes from turnip, contains a harmful acid, C 22: 1 erucic, which can cause malformations in children and growth disorders.

Many Chilean producers used rapeseed oil for a long time, until various studies scientists they warned of its great toxicity; then, its use was increasingly restricted, until it was completely withdrawn from the market. At present, it is possible to obtain a rapeseed hybrid with an erucic acid presence of less than 0.2%.