Cooking with rice bran oil for people with allergies and restricted diets
Why is rice bran oil the perfect solution for cooking with dietary restrictions?
One of the most direct ways we can have a positive impact on our health is through our food choices. But different people have different dietary needs. More people than ever are dealing with allergies and restricting their diets for health reasons. That can make cooking for a group – even just your own family – a challenge. If you are in need of a cooking oil that you know is safe for a variety of restricted diets, then rice bran oil can be a great all-purpose addition to your healthy kitchen.
*Alfa One rice bran oil is suitable for use by those on the following types of restricted diets:
- nut-free, peanut-free
- dairy-free
- soy-free
- wheat-free, gluten-free, celiac
- cholesterol-free
- heart healthy (used in moderation)
- diabetic, sugar-free
- vegetarian/vegan
- egg-free
- preservative-free
What is rice bran oil made from?
Rice bran. Period. That means it doesn’t contain: dairy, wheat, gluten, peanuts, eggs, soy, preservatives or anything else you may be allergic to (or choose to avoid). Just 100% rice bran oil, with a healthy dose of naturally occurring anti-oxidants and micronutrients including Gamma Oryzanol, which Dr. Oz says can have all kinds of health benefits.
Why doesn’t rice bran oil go bad if it doesn’t have any chemical preservatives in it?
Rice bran oil is high in natural, stable anti-oxidants (5500 parts per million), and those keep the oil from breaking down while also helping your body get rid of damaging free radicals that can cause all kinds of illnesses and disease. Read more about how rice bran oil compares to other cooking oils.
Is rice bran oil safe for those with peanut allergies?
YES! Peanut allergies often come with extreme reactions, and can make both the cook and the person with the peanut allergy nervous about trying new foods or recipes. Alfa One rice bran oil is made in a peanut-free facility, so you can feel confident that you can safely use your rice bran oil in any dishes to be enjoyed by people with a nut or peanut allergy. Looking for some peanut-free recipe ideas? PeanutAllergy.com has some great recipe ideas, and you can simply use Alfa One rice bran oil anywhere that cooking oil appears in a recipe.
Why is rice bran oil safe for a wheat-free, gluten-free or celiac diet?
Alfa One rice bran oil is produced in a wheat-free, gluten-free facility and contains only the oil from rice bran. That means that it’s safe for celiacs, as well as those following a wheat-free or gluten-free diet. For more information about what grains and foods are safe for celiacs please visit the Canadian Celiac Association online. I’ve found rice bran oil to be particularly good for use in gluten-free frying (the corn-flake crumbs turn a lovely toasted colour, and keep their flavour and crisp texture) and in gluten-free baking I found the finished products to be moister and less crumbly when I used rice bran oil in my favourite recipes. More information on cooking with rice bran oil here.
gluten-free blueberry lemon loaf
Why is rice bran oil recommended for a low cholesterol, heart healthy diet?
The Heart and Stroke Foundation’s healthy eating guidelines recommend consuming a small amount – 30 to 45 mL (2 to 3 tablespoons) – of unsaturated fat each day as part of a balanced diet. They suggest the cooking oil you choose should contain both mono- and polyunsaturated (Omega-3, Omega-6) fats. The mono-unsaturated fats can help improve blood cholesterol levels, and the poly-unsaturated fats can help lower bad (LDL) cholesterol levels. Alfa One rice bran oil contains a good balance between the two types of fat (39% mono-unsaturated, 35% poly-unsaturated) and contains no Trans fat, and no cholesterol. There is more detailed information in this article: Rice Bran Oil – The Best Choice for the Health Conscious Cook. But the bottom line is - in moderation – rice bran oil is a safe addition to a heart healthy, low cholesterol diet.
How can rice bran oil be beneficial in a diabetic diet?
According to the Canadian Diabetes Association, it’s important for people who are diabetic to also follow a heart healthy diet. Maintaining a healthy body weight and lowering cholesterol can help to manage blood-glucose levels. The way they recommend doing this is by making sure to limit fat consumption to moderate amounts of those “healthier fats” as mentioned earlier. Some benefits of rice bran oil are that it’s a “thinner” oil, and when used for salad dressings and roasting, it doesn’t take as much oil to coat the food. When frying with rice bran oil you need less oil to coat the pan, and less of the oil soaks into the food – which means less of the oil actually makes it into your body. In this case, less really is more!
The bottom line: Alfa One rice bran oil is a great staple to have in the cupboard so that no matter who you are cooking for, or what dietary restrictions they may have, you’ll be able to prepare your favourite healthy recipes with confidence. Wondering where to buy Alfa One rice bran oil in Canada? Need some recipe ideas?
*Please note: manufacturing conditions vary from brand to brand – and in this article we’re focusing on one particular brand – Alfa One rice bran oil. If you’re not using Alfa One, please be sure to consult the manufacturer to be sure their rice bran oil is produced the same way as Alfa One rice bran oil before adding it to any diet.
Crystal Stranaghan, is a Vancouver based writer with a passion for all things health and wellness related.