Every once in a while I get that giddy school girl feeling over a new food product. The common oils in my house are coconut oil, olive oil, and flax oil. However, just recently I added a fourth oil to the roster. One that I’m very excited about. Not only because it tastes AMAZING but because it looks good naked. The oil I’m talking about is called camelina oil.
What is Camelina Oil
Camelina oil is made from the camelina sativa plant which is an ancient grain and part of the mustard family. It used to be a popular plant and oil (especially in Europe). However, as other crops grew in popularity (mainly because they yielded more and were easier to process into products like margarine), camelina oil production declined.
One of the crops that was growing in popularity at the time was canola. Canola is a plant that was created from the rapeseed plant by scientists in the late 1960’s because they wanted to remove some of the rapeseed plant’s undesirable qualities. Canola oil was developed in Canada and now 80% or more of the canola oil crops are genetically modified. In addition most canola oil (and many other oils) are created using a hexane extraction method (instead of cold pressing), which is why I never buy it.
The 3 Main Reasons I Love Camelina Oil So Much
Reason 1: High in Vitamin E
It is loaded with vitamin E which is an antioxidant. This helps to make sure that the oil doesn’t easily go rancid/oxidize. When this happens to an oil it creates free radicals which can harm the body. This often happens when oils are heated. The high amount of vitamin E in camelina oil helps to make it more heat stable than some other oils on the market. Vitamin E when consumed, is also very beneficial for our health because it helps to prevent many illnesses like heart disease and cancer.
Reason 2: High in Omega-3
It has a fantastic fat profile. Camelina oil is loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. This is great news because most people are deficient in omega-3. In the Standard American Diet we are consuming high amounts of omega-6. It’s important to have a good balance between the two. Consuming enough omega-3 in our diet helps fight inflammation, prevent heart disease, improve brain health, etc. Check out the chart below that shows the fat profile of some common oils.
Note: Although flax oil is higher in Omega-3’s, it is very sensitive to heat, so much so it should be kept in a dark container in the fridge. I like to use both in my house, they both provide a unique flavor and are a great source of omega-3’s, plus Camelina is more heat stable so can be used for low heat cooking while still providing a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids.
Reason 3: It Tastes Amazing!
It tastes incredible! The first time I tried it I was blown away by the flavor. It has a unique nutty flavor that is really delicious.
What to look for when buying Camelina Oil
When you are buying camelina oil make sure it is cold pressed. This means that they don’t use high temperatures and chemicals to extract the oil from the seeds. This is important because it helps to ensure a high quality healthy oil. I would also make sure you get the oil from a company that you trust.
The brand that I use is called Three Farmers. They are a small batch manufacturer in Saskatchewan, Canada. Their products are certified non-GMO and cold pressed. While I do love those benefits, the thing that really sets this company apart from the rest is that all their products are fully traceable. On the back of my oil bottle I have a tracking number. I can go to their website and type in that number and find out what my farmer’s name is, see exactly what plot of land it came from, the date it was planted, harvested, pressed, and bottled, in addition to a story about the growing conditions, etc. AMAZING RIGHT!? If you want to give it a try you can use one of my tracking codes to test it out on their website. Go to ThreeFarmers.ca and type in the tracking code: 020700022.
Three Farmers currently offers three camelina oil products: Original, Roasted Onion and Basil, and Roasted Garlic and Chili. I have tried all three and love them all. However, I would say my favorite is the Roasted Garlic and Chili.
My husband Steve loves to make home-made organic popcorn in our air-popper as a snack for movie nights. Our new favorite is popcorn with a drizzle of the Roasted Garlic and Chili Camelina oil and a sprinkling of Celtic sea salt. WOW it’s amazing. Our new movie night staple.
To order Three Farmers Camelina Oil or to find a store near you, check out their website: www.ThreeFarmers.ca
