Cooking oil, also known as edible oil, is a crucial part of food. Cooking oil is used for frying, baking, sautéing, roasting, grilling, and more. It can also be used to flavor food, such as in salad dressings and bread dips. Oils like Olive oil, Canola oil, Peanut oil, Sunflower and safflower oil are some of the commonly used cooking oils.
Sunflower oil is made by pressing the seeds of the Helianthus annuus plant. Sunflower oil is often touted as a healthy oil, as it contains unsaturated fats that may benefit heart health.
There are four types of sunflower oil available in the United States. These include high linoleic (68% linoleic acid), mid-oleic (NuSun, 65% oleic acid), high oleic (82% oleic acid), and high stearic/high oleic (Nutrisun, 72% oleic acid, 18% stearic acid).
What is the nutritional value of Sunflower oil?
All sunflower oils are 100 percent fat and contain vitamin E, a fat-soluble nutrient that protects cells from age-related damage. Sunflower oils do not contain protein, carbs, cholesterol, or sodium, as per a Healthline report.
What are the benefits of Sunflower oil?
Sunflower oil can be a healthy option when used at the right temperature. According to VeryWell Health, Sunflower oil contains high levels of unsaturated fats used in the body as omega-6 fatty acids, which are vital for regulating metabolism and encouraging the proper growth and health of the skin, hair, and bones.
Some studies suggest that consuming high oleic sunflower oil, especially in place of saturated fats, may help reduce your risk of heart disease by lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol.
What are the side-effects of Sunflower oil?
Some of the concerning negative effects of Sunflower oil include:
- Sunflower oils that are not high oleic contain more omega-6, which may harm your health.
- Sunflower oil should not be cooked at above 450 degrees because it releases potentially toxic compounds at higher temperatures.
- Some individuals may experience digestive discomfort or allergic reactions, although this is rare.
- The high calorie content of sunflower oil means that overconsumption can contribute to weight gain.
Who should avoid Sunflower oil?
People with obesity should limit their intake of sunflower oil as diets high in fat can contribute to worsened health outcomes in this group.