Skimlinks Test Have you heard of Perilla oil or Egoma oil? It may not be the most common type of oil that you see in the grocery store. But the health benefits of perilla oil or egoma oil are enormous! This article is going to tell you more about it which no one really talks about!
Table of Contents
What is perilla (egoma) oil?
Perilla or egoma oil is made from the herb perilla, egoma is a specific species in the genus of perilla, which in turn belongs to the family Lamiaceae. A more commonly known name for Lamiaceae is mint. Perilla oil is made from the seeds of the plant.
Perilla was originated in Southeast Asia and are traditionally found in Korea, China and Japan. Not only does perilla used in cooking, it is also used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
What makes a good perilla oil?
High quality perilla or egoma oil does not only made from healthy and well-grown perilla, but also a fine separation of the seeds from the leaves and stalks of the plant.
As the seeds are covered with hairs naturally grown on the plant, they have to be washed thoroughly and dried before pressing.
Since the nutrients embedded in the perilla seeds are sensitive to heat, the oil has to be pressed slowly without heat to prevent damage or lose of the essential nutrients. Processing of the seeds are the key to unleashing the health benefits of perilla oil.
The health benefits of perilla oil
About 60% of the perilla or egoma seed is the fatty acid called α-linoenic acid (ALA). ALA is an essential omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that must be obtained through diet.
When ALA from the perilla or egoma seeds enters our body, it turns into EPA and DHA. While ALA is mostly derived from plants, EPA and DHA are mainly found in fish oil. Some racial groups are more efficient in converting ALA into EPA and DHA than the others.
The health benefits of perilla oil mainly rely on 3 key benefits that ALA, EPA and DHA offer to our body:
- Suppression of chronic inflammation. As we age, chronic inflammation and the metabolites generated can damage different organs in the body, which cause diseases like stoke, cardiovascular diseases and dementia.
- Prevention of metabolic syndrome: that includes the decrease in the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood vessels, therefore lowering the risk of having heart diseases, stoke and diabetes.
- Improvement of cognitive functions: studies show that regular consumption of the oil can lead to long term benefits in brain functions such as memory and ability to participate.
Dishes for perilla/ egoma oil
To extract the health benefits of perilla oil, it should be consumed without any heat processing. It is most suitable to eat with salad or used as a dressing for cold noodle dishes.
I found a recipe for using this perilla oil to season the soba in a Korean style. It looks really yummy!
https://futuredish.com/korean-perilla-soba-noodles-simple-easy-healthy/
What other dishes do you recommend to eat with perilla or egoma oil? Share with us in the comments below!
