Healthy high oleic sunflower oil for cooking and medicine can be purchased at affordable prices at our online store. Sunflower oil is an important vegetable oil used for deep frying. Sunflower is the fourth most important source of edible vegetable oil in the world, contributing up to 12% of edible oil production. On the market, the standard variety of sunflower oil is considered mid-oleic. Some sunflower oil is made up of linoleic acid. A newer version of sunflower oil with different properties is being referred to as high oleic. High oleic sunflower oil is growing rapidly in the oilseed market as a response to consumer demand. The benefits for consumers and food manufacturers include increased nutrition and increased shelf stability of products due to the oil’s altered properties.
Nutritional value of High-oleic sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is one of the best oil sources of vitamin E. It is often used in vegetable oil blends and spreadable fats to improve their vitamin E content. In general, the nutritional profile of healthy high oleic sunflower oil for cooking and medicine is as follows for one 1 level tbsp or 11ml:
- 99 Kcal / 407 kJ
- 11g Fat
- 1.3g Saturates
- 2.3g Mono-unsaturates
- 7.0g Poly-unsaturates
- 5.41mg Vitamin E
Healthy high oleic sunflower oil for cooking and medicine is sunflower oil rich in about 70% oleic acid. Like the other two types of sunflower oil, high-oleic sunflower oil lacks protein, carbohydrates, sugar, and dietary fiber.
Health benefits of sunflower oil
Generally, sunflower oil is packed with numerous health benefits making it ideal for consumption by everyone. A few benefits include;
Vitamin E content in high-oleic sunflower oil for cooking
Free radicals are formed as a result of metabolic processes, such as digestion, or from the environment, such as air pollution. All types of sunflower oil are rich in vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties that help neutralize damaging free radicals in your body.
In addition to supporting the immune system to fight off invading viruses and bacteria, vitamin E is essential for maintaining healthy blood vessels. By managing blood clotting by helping cells interact to carry out important bodily functions.
Heart health
Studies show oleic oil is very high in monounsaturated fat. It is essential for disease prevention and healthy body weight, according to a July 2020 systematic review of Advances in Nutrition. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can improve your cholesterol levels by replacing saturated fats with unsaturated fats.
According to a systematic review in PLOS Medicine in March 2010, opting for polyunsaturated fats instead of saturated fats limits the risk of coronary heart disease. A similar study was carried out in November 2018 by the FDA. It was revealed that oils rich in at least 70 percent oleic acid, such as high-oleic sunflower oil, may procure heart health benefits when used in place of saturated fats.
Brain and nerve health
As earlier mentioned, sunflower oil is an excellent source of vitamin E. Some scientific studies suggest that Vitamin E may slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Also, since deficiency of vitamin E may cause nerve pain, high oleic sunflower oil can be consumed to prevent this.
Skin protection
Sunflower oil, like other oils, can retain moisture on the skin. It may also be used to provide a protective barrier that resists infection in infants.
In addition to vitamin E, sunflower oil is equally rich in vitamins A, C, and D, making it potent in the treatment of acne. The sunflower seed oil also contains vitamins and fatty acids that act as antioxidants in the regeneration of new skin cells and help your skin eliminate acne-causing bacteria.
The oil is an excellent source of beta-carotene which is a fat-soluble compound that can be converted into Vitamin A. Beta-carotene’s antioxidant properties are beneficial for the healthy appearance of the skin.
The antioxidant properties of sunflower oil also help in preventing premature signs of aging, as it plays a role in protecting the skin from exposure to sunlight. The vitamin E in sunflower seed oil can also help protect skin collagen and elastin, and minimize the appearance of wrinkles on the face.
Other benefits of using healthy high-oleic sunflower oil
The benefits of high oleic oils are becoming well known, with consumers and manufacturers alike recognizing its advantages over other types of fat. The global market for Healthy high oleic sunflower oil for cooking and medicine is projected to grow by $290 billion by 2026 due to this growing demand.
Healthy source of fat: some of the reasons why people are turning to high oleic sunflower oil are because it is a healthy source of monounsaturated fatty acids, and it is also a relatively cheap option. As an alternative to polyunsaturated fats, saturated fatty acids, and trans-fats, high oleic acid helps reduce the risk of coronary artery disease and other health problems.
High thermal stability: unlike fragile linoleic acid, which decomposes at high temperatures, high oleic acid can withstand heat. Sunflower oil has high thermal stability due to its high smoke point making it ideal for high-heat cooking and frying. Low levels of linolenic acid help fryer oil last longer, unlocking efficiencies and cost savings for food producers who use it.
Long shell life: while high levels of linoleic acid can cause conventional sunflower oils to quickly sour, high oleic oils are less prone to oxidation. This prevents rancidity and extends the shelf life of high-oleic oils, providing product manufacturers with more shelf-stable ingredients.
Neutral flavor: the high oleic sunflower oil has a neutral flavor, which makes it a versatile food additive. Essentially tasteless and odorless, it allows food product developers to bring out other flavors without oil taking over the palate.
While the food industry is driving demand for high oleic sunflower oil for its nutritional benefits, many other industries are also finding valuable uses for this ingredient, including cosmetics and beauty products, biodiesel, paints, coatings, rubber, and plastics.
The other types of sunflower oil
Healthy high oleic sunflower oil for cooking and medicine is one of the three types of commercially sold sunflower oil. The other two are;
Mid-oleic sunflower oil
The mid-oleic sunflower oil takes a position between oleic oil and linoleic oil. It is made up of 25%, polyunsaturated linoleic acid, two-thirds of the fat content, and about 10% saturated fat. This sunflower oil retains enough levels of linoleic acid to maintin its excellent dietary source for oleic acid.
Linoleic sunflower oil
Linoleic sunflower oil is made of more polyunsaturated omega-6 fats but lacks content in healthy omega-3s. The ratio of these two fats matters especially in the right ratio. According to studies on Nutrients in March 2016, these fats can help in preventing and managing obesity.
Typically, most people eat more omega-6 fats than omega-3 fats. However, instead of limiting the intake of omega-6 fats, a better strategy consists in eating more omega-3 to maintain a healthy balance of the two fats, per Harvard Health Publishing.
For those who use more linoleic sunflower oil which has a high omega-6 content, it is advised to add some fish or other omega-3-rich foods to the diet.
How is healthy high-oleic sunflower oil produced?
Sunflower oil is fifth in the production of edible vegetable oils in the world. World production of edible oils and fats has increased over the past few years with total seed production at about 400 million tonnes in 2014. Healthy high oleic sunflower oil for cooking and medicine is expected to reach a value of US$ 14.4 billion by 2030 in the global high oleic oil market.
To produce high oleic oil, the seeds must contain at least 70% oleic acid. Sunflower, soybean, safflower, rapeseed, and olive seeds are all important sources of oil for this growing industry. In particular, high oleic sunflower oil typically contains 82-84% monounsaturated fat and about 7-9% polyunsaturated fat or linoleic acid.
The same equipment used to process conventional oilseeds can also be used to process high oleic oil. An exporter presses the oil from the seeds to separate the oil from the meal inside each seed. An extruder has used that shears, cooks, and dries the sunflower seeds using friction instead of steam to generate heat. This helps break down the seed cells to release more oil and reduces energy costs for processors. Since sunflower seeds have very high oil concentrations, under the high-pressure and friction conditions of the extruder, the seeds release more oil than low-density oilseeds, such as soybeans.
Why is sunflower oil ideal for cooking?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) consider sunflower oil to be a heart-healthy oil. This oil is high in unsaturated fatty acids, which makes it a healthier choice than sources of saturated fat, such as lard, palm oil, stick margarine, and shortening. However, consumers should be aware that not all results from studies exploring the effects of sunflower oil are positive.
A study published in February 2017 in the Journal of Hazardous Materials compared aldehyde emissions from sunflower oil, canola oil, palm oil, and soybean oil. Of the four oils, sunflower had the highest emissions, while palm and canola oil had the lowest emissions levels. One possible side effect of using sunflower oil is inflammation.
Sunflower oil Vs other vegetable oils
The best oil for deep frying should be heat-resistant so that it doesn’t turn to oil when heated. A new study suggests that extra-virgin olive oil may be better than sunflower or vegetable oil when cooking. High temperatures during frying cause oils to decompose and produce polar compounds that have adverse health effects. Instead of the problem being related to the oil’s smoke point, as previously thought, oxidation stability and other factors more accurately predict oil performance. This was revealed in a June 2018 study published in Acta Scientific Nutritional Health.
The American Heart Association (AHA) provides a list of “best for you” fats that include peanut, corn, olive, safflower, canola, soybean, and sunflower oils. Other acceptable options include a mixture of these oils in vegetable oils as well as avocado, grape seed, sesame seed, and rice bran oils. The most important thing to remember is to avoid trans and hydrogenated fats.
Risks related to the use of sunflower oil for cooking
Sunflower oil, like other oils containing omega-6 fatty acids, can promote inflammation, according to the Arthritis Foundation. The organization doesn’t specifically recommend avoiding these oils, but it warns against overdoing them when consuming them.
Linoleic Sunflower Oil May Cause Inflammation
While high-oleic acid sunflower oil can improve cholesterol levels and decrease heart disease risk, the situation is less straightforward with linoleic sunflower oil. On the one hand, a systematic review of more than 300,000 people in Circulation in August 2014 found an inverse association between linoleic acid and coronary heart disease. But sometimes studies come to the opposite conclusion: For example, an article in Open Heart in September 2018 stated that linoleic acid promotes inflammation and “may be a major dietary culprit in CHD [coronary heart disease].” The study found that people with certain gene variants responded differently to linoleic sunflower oil, with some experiencing more inflammation.
Linked to Cancer Risk if Used With High Heat
If you’ve ever fried foods, you know that using oil to fry foods often produces an unpleasant odor. Those fumes that spread through your kitchen when you cook with oil contain chemicals, like aldehydes. These chemicals are carcinogenic, according to a study published in October 2016 in the Journal of Hazardous Materials.
According to a study that compared different cooking oils and methods, cooking at high heat with sunflower oil results in the highest aldehyde release. The more heat the sunflower oil is exposed to, the more aldehydes are released. This makes some people believe that sunflower oil is bad for you, because of the side effects it can cause. To avoid these, you can use gentle cooking methods, like stir-frying, according to the study authors. To sear or brown foods, use high-oleic sunflower oil, as advised by the Cleveland Clinic.
In conclusion
It is obvious that how healthy sunflower oil is dependent on a number of factors including; its fatty acid composition, how it was processed and stored, and the use to which it is put.
When selecting sunflower oil, we advise you to go for healthy high oleic sunflower oil for cooking and medicine. The oil is rich in high oleic acid meaning mono-unsaturated fats constitute approximately 70% of the fatty acid composition. As a result, the oil will be more stable during cooking and will provide a more heart-friendly type of unsaturated fats.
Using sunflower oil in small amounts for short and low-heat cooking will give the best benefits possible. You may also vary your oil consumption with other varieties like soybean, olive, avocado, and rapeseed which may provide a better balance to your diet. It should be noted that sunflower oil should never be re-used as this may trigger the release of harmful chemicals. As such, discard any residual sunflower oil immediately after use.
For those who have an allergy to plants in the Asteraceae family, such as chrysanthemums, marigolds, and daisies, you should consult your healthcare professional for guidance.