Question

Why should we prefer vegetable oils over animal fats for cooking food. Give a balanced equation for hydrogenation of vegetable oil?

Answer 1

Animal fats generally contain saturated fatty acids that are very harmful for our health. So oils containing unsaturated fatty acids should be chosen

Answer 2

Oils are unsaturated carbon compounds. So they have double or triple bonds. Double and triple bonds are easy to be digested or to be broken down into simpler substances. But if a saturated compounds like vanaspati Ghee are used. It becomes difficult for our body to digest the food as single bonds are not easily broken down into simpler substances by the acids present in our body. This results in incomplete digestion, which is not good for our health.