We've all heard the saying "Health is Wealth," but how many of us truly understand these words? The majority of us never pay any heed to our health until we get sick, and even then we hope to get better by popping a pill or two. Only when it's too late do most of us realise that what we were taking for granted was the actual wealth in its truest sense. Our body is the only instrument through which we live and can enjoy our lives, and no amount of money can buy a fit body for us.

When you are healthy, you might have hundreds of dreams and goals that you want to fulfil, but when you are sick, you only dream about having a healthy body. Yet, we continue to abuse our bodies by leading sedentary lifestyles, eating processed and junk food, and engaging in substance abuse.

I experienced this firsthand when I got really sick four years ago, and all I wanted was to get my health back. I had put my life on hold because I thought I had to get better first. This is when I really started to take care of my health. I was always researching ways to improve my lifestyle and eating habits for the betterment of my health. I noticed that our daily eating habits play a major role, and we scarcely notice the things we put into our bodies on a day-to-day basis.

One of those things is cooking oil. Up until then, normal refined oil available in the market was used in our household, and after some research, I found out how harmful these refined oils are for our health. These oils have no nutritional value as they are extracted using chemicals, then neutralised, bleached, and finally deodorised using high-temperature steam distillation under a vacuum, which helps to extend the oil's shelf life. Using such oils regularly has been linked to inflammation, heart disease, and other health issues.

We Indians are known for our love of deep-fried food, so you can imagine why our country has increasing cases of diabetes and heart diseases. Of course, other factors are also at play here, but we can't ignore that one of the major reasons is our food choices, and cooking oil is a staple in our cuisine.

But there is a solution to this: start using wood pressed oils. They are mechanically extracted using the wood-pressed method without any use of heat, which keeps the nutritional value of the oil intact. These oils contain the nutrition of their respective seeds and are a source of essential minerals and antioxidants, which in turn are beneficial for our health.

It's true that they are slightly more expensive than their refined counterparts because mechanical extraction yields less oil and the oils are without any additives and preservatives, which are generally used in refined oils to increase their shelf life. The more processed a product is, the longer its shelf life will be, and this is all the more reason not to use refined oils.

If you are still in doubt about whether to use wood pressed oils because they seem expensive and it's easier to choose a cheap oil, consider the hospital bills you will have if you continue down this path of ignorance until it's too late to go back and make different choices. It's all about priorities. If you care about your and your family's health, then trust me, these few more bucks are an investment in your family's health and future. I have definitely seen a positive impact on my family members' health by replacing refined oils with wood pressed oils.

You will notice the difference in a couple of days of using wood pressed oil, as food cooked in it is so light on your stomach, and the aroma is just heavenly.

Based on my personal experience, I would say choosing wood pressed oils such as sesame, mustard, and groundnut in our daily cooking has truly contributed to the

better health of my family, and this is an investment I will continue to make throughout my life. I highly recommend that you do too.