Sunflower is a crop native to the United States and has been cultivated since 1000BC. Sunflower oil is an integral part of food in many regions of the world and is even considered for skin treatment and as a medicine. This is available in multiple forms, and each has its own health benefits. It is a popular vegetable oil that has high smoke points and mild flavor. Ideally, one tbsp of this contains 120 calories and 14gm of fat. It is a rich source of Vitamin K and E. This product has health benefits because it has a low saturated fat content and is high in monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA).
PUFA includes omega-6s and omega 3s and is known to reduce triglycerides and cholesterol in the bloodstream. MUFA is responsible to reduce the chances of heart disease and is present in large quantities of olive products. MUFA increases the level of HDL which is known as good cholesterol. It also leads to lower levels of inflammation. Linoleic acid present in this cooking oil can benefit heart health too. it reduces the risk associated with coronary heart disease. This product is beneficial for nerve and brain health too. As mentioned above the health benefits of vitamin E, with that it can be also helpful in reducing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Nerve pain can happen due to deficiency of vitamin E.
Sunflower cooking oil can be extracted from the seeds using two methods i.e., warm and cold press methods. Cold-pressed ones are considered to be purer. In this method, the seeds are broken from their shells and then crushed between cylinders. The rolling of the seeds leads extraction of its content. This process is used for producing extra-virgin premium sunflower oil. The warm press method is used to obtain a larger yield. The seeds are heated to some extent and then the process of the cold press is used to remove this product. The heat reduces the viscosity of the food and it gets extracted freely from the seed. But there is a difference in taste. Warm pressed food products are roasted and nutty in flavor.
There are three types of this product i.e., mid oleic, linoleic and high oleic. It is healthier to choose the food with a high content of oleic while the least healthy option is the one containing a high amount of linoleic. Usually, this product is available in the market in non-GMO and organic form. If you want to make your food healthy and tasty, using the right cooking essentials like these can be a brilliant choice.