Sunflower oil - benefits and harms of consumption. Is sunflower oil healthy?

Vegetable oil is one of the must-have products in the kitchen of every housewife. Sunflower oil, enriched with beneficial properties, is especially in demand. However, not many people know that it can be used not only for cooking: it is also useful as a cosmetic and medicinal product. Before you start using this ingredient, you need to become familiar with the benefits and harms of sunflower oil for human health.

What is sunflower oil made from?

Produced from sunflower seeds. To do this, they are peeled, crushed, fried and squeezed. The oil obtained from the seeds settles. In production, preference is given to oilseed varieties.

Chemical composition of sunflower oil

The oil is known for its healing properties due to the content of useful elements:

vegetable fats; according to experts, such fats are much easier to digest compared to animals;
fatty acids - linoleic, stearic, arachidic, oleic, palmitic, behenic, which have a beneficial effect on the construction of tissues and cells, and also benefit in improving the functioning of the nervous and cardiovascular systems;
alpha tocopherol (vitamin E)– an important antioxidant that slows down the natural aging process and protects against the formation of cancer cells.

The composition also contains phosphorus and sterols.

It is worth noting that sunflower oil contains a higher concentration of tocopherol compared to other vegetable fats. Even olive oil, which is positioned as the most useful and enriched with the most important medicinal properties, is inferior in this component.

Important! Sunflower seed oil contains 12 times more tocopherol than any other vegetable.

Nutritional value and calorie content of sunflower oil

A very high-calorie product: 899 calories per 100 g. Information about nutritional value and beneficial components is presented in the table:

What are the benefits of sunflower oil?

Benefits of sunflower oil for the human body:

Used as a prophylactic against skin diseases.
Useful for respiratory diseases.
It has long been used in the treatment of rickets in children.
Strengthens the immune system.
Reduces the likelihood of developing cancer.
When used correctly, it allows you to cleanse the body of excess cholesterol.
Improves brain function.
Normalizes the cardiovascular system.

Refined deodorized sunflower oil has less significant health benefits. This is due to the fact that it undergoes multi-stage processing, as a result of which vitamins and beneficial properties disappear. If used regularly it can even cause harm.

Sunflower oil for pregnant and lactating women

During pregnancy, a woman is often bothered by constipation caused by a sedentary lifestyle, lower back pain, bowel dysfunction, and poor diet. To cope with this delicate problem, it is useful to drink sunflower oil. It is enough to take 2 tablespoons.

A similar technique is also effective for heartburn, which many pregnant women complain about. It is also acceptable to take it in other ways, for example, as a salad dressing. This does not change the beneficial properties.

After the birth of a child, a woman’s body undergoes serious hormonal changes; it benefits from food enriched with proteins, fats and carbohydrates, micro- and macroelements, and vitamins. Sunflower oil is an integral part of the diet of a young nursing mother.

Women during pregnancy and lactation are recommended to take only raw sunflower oil, which has not been subjected to heat treatment and is maximally enriched with vitamins and beneficial properties. Other types of product may cause harm to vulnerable organisms.

It is important to pay attention to the fact that before adding oil to your diet and using it to get rid of health problems, you need to consult a specialist.

Important! During such a delicate period as carrying a child and breastfeeding, you need to be extremely careful when selecting various food ingredients, since many of them can harm both mother and baby.

Is sunflower oil good for the elderly?

With age, the body begins to lose the ability to independently cope with stress; for this reason, older people regularly suffer from disorders of the heart and gastrointestinal tract. Particularly harmful to health are waste products and toxins that clog blood vessels, increasing the risk of thrombosis. Therefore, the body needs help, which is recommended to receive by taking healthy foods. Sunflower oil will help balance your diet and saturate it with vitamins and essential substances.

Cold-pressed sunflower oil is very useful for older people because it allows:

normalize hormonal levels;
strengthen the immune system;
enrich yourself with macro- and microelements, vitamins;
normalize the functioning of the stomach, intestines, and heart muscle.

According to clinical data, older volunteers who added a small amount of this healthy ingredient to their menu daily, for example, as a salad dressing, had a 2-fold reduction in cardiovascular pathologies.

Is it possible to give sunflower oil to children?

It is not only possible, but also necessary to be given to children, since the oil is rich in healthy fatty acids, which are necessary for the full development of the child and normal growth.

Warning! It is worth noting that the gradual introduction of oil into the baby’s diet starting from 5 months is considered safe and beneficial. However, doing this on your own initiative is unacceptable; consultation with a pediatrician is necessary. Possible harm to the child's fragile body.

Permissible dosage:

babies up to one year - no more than 3 g per day;
from one year to 3 years – 6 g;
over 3 years – up to 18 g per day.

Can be added to purees and vegetable soups. It is not recommended to subject it to strong heat treatment, since the beneficial properties of the oil will disappear.

Treatment with sunflower oil

The health benefits of the oil are that it can be used to safely treat various diseases:

Eliminating constipation with oil is one of the most effective methods of dealing with the problem. To prevent/eliminate constipation, it is enough to adjust your diet and add a spoonful of a healthy product to your main dishes every day. It is not recommended to exceed this dosage so as not to harm the intestines.
Rinsing your mouth with sunflower oil allows you to cleanse your body of germs and bacteria, since most of them are concentrated in the oral cavity. You can also reduce gum inflammation by using rinses. You need to take a small amount of the product into your mouth, rinse slowly for 3-5 minutes and spit it out.
For sore throat and sore throat, gargling is also useful. Oil is drawn into the mouth, the head is thrown back a little, you need to gargle for several minutes, then spit it out. To be beneficial during throat illnesses, gargling should be done every 2-3 hours. The harm from such treatment is minimal, but it is recommended to first consult with a specialist.

Interesting video about the benefits of oil:

How to take sunflower oil for weight loss

The benefits of the product in the process of losing weight are questionable. There is an opinion that you need to drink it to speed up weight loss. However, it has been scientifically proven that this method will not be able to get rid of excess subcutaneous fat. This will not harm your health, but it will not be particularly beneficial for reducing the number of kilograms.

However, the beneficial properties for losing weight lie elsewhere. The composition contains fatty acids and vitamins, which are often lacking for those who, in pursuit of a slim figure, limit themselves to certain dishes. Due to strict diets, the body experiences a deficiency of vital elements, and adding a small amount of oil (for example, as a dressing in a vegetable salad) will fill the gaps without harming the process of losing excess weight.

Cleansing the body with sunflower oil

Cleansing the body can be done by sucking oil in the mouth. The benefits of this procedure are enormous:

everything unnecessary and harmful in the body is sucked out;
metabolic processes improve;
normal cell function is restored;
clears the sinuses during sinusitis and colds;
Toxins are removed, excess cholesterol is reduced.

To get real benefits from this method, you must carry out the procedure at least twice a day.

The use of sunflower oil in cosmetology

Taking advantage of the benefits of body butter is one of the most popular summer life hacks. To get a perfectly even and beautiful tan, before going to the beach, you need to wipe your skin with a sponge dipped in high-quality oil.

Also, based on this ingredient, you can prepare various cosmetic masks for the face and hair.

Face masks

Masks will moisturize the skin, rejuvenate, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. To test the beneficial properties of one of the most useful recipes, you will need the following ingredients:

yeast – 30 g;
cream – 50 ml;
honey – 50 g;
sunflower oil – 30 ml;
lemon juice – 5-6 drops.

Sequencing:

First you need to mix the yeast with the cream and heat it slightly.
Stir and wait until the yeast dissolves.
After this, add the remaining ingredients in the indicated proportions and beat thoroughly with a whisk.
Apply the resulting mixture to your face.
For maximum benefit, it is recommended to also treat the neck and décolleté area.
After half an hour, when the skin is saturated with the healing properties of the mask, remove it with a damp cotton pad and wash.

Hair masks

The beneficial properties of the oil are also used for masks. With their help, you can make your hair beautiful, healthy, shiny; they will begin to grow faster, and the color will become more saturated. The benefits of the mask will be primarily noticeable on dry, brittle, split ends.

For dry hair

Mix oil and lemon juice in a 2:1 ratio.
Apply the mixture along the entire length of the hair, from roots to ends.
Hide your hair under a plastic bag and wrap a towel on top.
After half an hour, rinse thoroughly under running water.

Important! This mask not only nourishes the hair, but also effectively fights dandruff.

For brittle and split ends

Grind burdock root (100 g), add to a glass with butter, stir.
Cover the dishes and leave in a cool place for 24 hours.
After this, keep the mixture in a water bath (no more than 20 minutes).
Cool to a comfortable temperature, strain.
Apply the mixture to your hair from roots to ends.
Be sure to rub the mask into the scalp with gentle massaging movements.
To achieve a greater effect, cover your hair with a plastic bag or a special cap and a towel on top.
After half an hour, rinse with water.

Which oil is healthier: refined or unrefined?

If we compare unrefined and refined sunflower oil, their benefits and harms differ significantly. On the packaging of the unrefined product you can see the inscription Virgin, which means a pure product that has undergone only primary mechanical filtration. This allows you to preserve maximum beneficial properties.

During the preparation process, refined products undergo many technological treatments, including heat. Several degrees of purification reduce the healing properties. And if taken excessively, such a product can cause serious harm to health.

Based on the preparation technology, we can conclude that unrefined is much healthier in terms of properties than refined.

Harm of sunflower oil and contraindications

There is a high probability of getting both benefits and harm from unrefined sunflower oil. It is very dangerous if abused; it can lead to obesity and a significant increase in bad cholesterol in the blood. In large doses it causes digestive problems. If you consume a low-quality or expired product, poisoning is possible.

Important! People suffering from diabetes and severe heart pathologies should add oil to their diet with caution, as this product can cause significant harm to health.

How to choose sunflower oil

When choosing, you need to pay attention to the sediment in the bottle. If the oil is fresh, of good quality and has the most beneficial properties, a slight sediment with slight cloudiness at the bottom of the container is acceptable.
Another important indicator is taste. It should be light and pleasant. If the taste is bitter, this is a sign of a low-quality or expired product, which will not be beneficial.
You can also check the quality by the composition. Place a drop on the skin and rub lightly. If it is absorbed quickly, this indicates high quality.
It is better to purchase small volume containers. When opening the bottle and regular use, the oil will come into contact with air, which will significantly reduce its shelf life, worsen its healing properties, and can also harm the body.

How and where to store sunflower oil

When the container is opened, after the first use the bottle must be placed in the refrigerator. It is recommended to store the product not in a plastic bottle, but in a glass bottle, which must be tightly closed. Thanks to this, it will be possible to preserve beneficial properties for a long time.

It is not advisable to store at room temperature. In a warm atmosphere, the quality will deteriorate, which can lead to poisoning.

Conclusion

The benefits and harms of sunflower oil for humans are significant. You can help normalize your health only by using a high-quality product enriched with beneficial properties. Before using it, it is recommended to consult with a specialist, as it is possible to identify individual limitations and contraindications.

Conversations about the benefits of oils have been ongoing in recent years from all sides. They are both tasty and healthy, but the first place in this vegetable top list is the overseas olive oil. But what about sunflower oil? The benefits and harms of this product have been used for three centuries. It was in Russia that the first oil mill for processing colorful sunflowers was created. It was in Russian villages and cities that young people have always loved to husk healthy sunflower seeds. Sunflower oil is famous for its cleansing and anti-cancer properties. Isn't it time to reacquaint yourself with such a native oil?

A little history

Sunflower oil is not just a transparent bottle with a golden liquid, with which we season salads and fry chicken since childhood. This is our history, our pride, our national Russian product and branded medicine.

The ancient Indians began to develop oil from sunflower seeds, then the Spanish conquerors brought it to Europe, but quickly abandoned it, switching to the promising olive. And then Peter the Great noticed a luxurious sunflower flower in Holland and wanted the same “scarlet flower” for his home. So I brought it.

In the 18th century, academician Vasily Severgin studied sunflower seeds and assured that they make excellent coffee (hello to barley and) and also oil. But industrial production of salad dressing began only in 1834 - thanks to the peasant Bokarev.

Sunflower and olive – which is better?

In fact, it is impossible to say unambiguously which oil is healthier - olive or sunflower. And to understand the difference between them, let's consider all the points in order.

Unsaturated omega-6 fatty acids.

The renowned properties of olive “nectar,” which protects the heart and blood vessels, are associated not with a large percentage of omega-6 acids (there are many more of them), but with the correct ratio: there are omega-3s, there are practically no less useful omega-6s. Sunflower oil cannot boast of this: 74.6% omega-6 versus olive oil 9.8%.

Unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids.

This is the most useful of all fatty acids, and if olive oil contains it (0.761%), then sunflower oil does not have it at all. The peculiarity is that, which is cited as the standard of healthy eating precisely because of olives, it involves a lot of fatty fish, which helps to compensate for the lack of omega-3. And if you pour sunflower dressing on salmon, tuna or mackerel, you will get almost the same effect. By and large, these two oils are practically the same in terms of omega-3 content; moreover, in some sources, on the contrary, they write that their content in olive oil is zero, and in sunflower oil it is about one percent.

Vitamin E of youth.

But here sunflower oil is the clear leader: 100 ml of product contains 41 mg of vitamin E versus 15 mg of olive oil. Therefore, sunflower is also famous as an effective and budget-friendly remedy for preserving youth and beauty.

The composition of sunflower oil is close to that of olive oil, also in the absence of trans fats (if the product is not heated) and a small percentage of saturated fats. Moreover, there are even fewer of the latter in sunflower.

What if it’s high oleic?

Another treasure of olive and sunflower products is the unsaturated fatty acid omega-9. It is famous as a powerful remedy for the prevention of cancer (especially breast tumors), useful for radiant skin, a sharp mind and clear memory, strong blood vessels and a resilient heart.

In nature, the content of omega-9 in overseas olive and native sunflower is almost the same - 44-45%. But if you take high-oleic sunflower oil, the innovative pride of the oil industry, the percentage of acid will increase significantly. Up to 75 percent. This oil has a number of advantages over classic olive oil. It has a mild, neutral taste (not everyone likes the aroma of olive), it is convenient to use for frying, and it has a much longer shelf life than its Mediterranean competitor.

I am glad that Russian food industry giants have also begun to produce such a miracle oil. Look on the shelves for oil bottles under the brands “Rossiyanka”, “Aston” and “Zateya” - it is in them that the oleic superpower is hidden.

The benefits and harms of sunflower oil

The beneficial properties of sunflower oil are entirely due to its composition. The healing triumvirate of omega 3-6-9 gives us vigor and energy, strengthens the intellect and speeds up thought processes, cleanses blood vessels and helps fight bad cholesterol.

Also, sunflower extract is the most important assistant in responsible self-care. It is ideal for homemade nourishing masks and protects the skin from the most dangerous rays of the sun. Sunflower oil is irreplaceable for hair (reviews on women's forums will only confirm this).

The best part is that rubbing yourself with oil and using it internally is not always strictly necessary. The therapeutic effect is manifested even if you simply season it with porridge, salads, boiled potatoes and other familiar dishes. Try replacing some of the butter on the menu with vegetable oil! The taste will not deteriorate at all. But the benefits will increase significantly.

But refined sunflower oil can also cause harm, so it is important to use it in moderation. For obesity, for example, it is necessary to limit sunflower oil: its calorie content is approximately 899 kcal, so a maximum of 3 tablespoons per day is allowed. Each calorie content is about 152 kcal.

Cleansing by sucking oil

One of the most famous healing properties of sunflower oil is its unique ability to remove toxins, waste, and pathogenic microorganisms from the body.

All toxic substances accumulate not only in the intestines, but also in the mouth. Therefore, the medicinal sucking of sunflower oil has long been known - reviews of doctors about it can be collected from ancient times. This unusual technique was proposed by ancient Indian healers, Russian healers, and Ukrainian oncologist T. Karnaut. But the principles of oil cleansing are the same everywhere.

First, practice with plain water - swallow a tablespoon and move it back and forth through your closed teeth to your lips. When you feel that you can no longer swallow liquid, you can take oil.
You need to suck sunflower oil on an empty stomach, in the mornings or evenings (or better twice a day) for 24 minutes. Time must be strictly observed.
Focus on your sensations: first the product thickens in your mouth, then it becomes liquid, like ordinary water. This is the time to spit it out.
The color of used oil should be rich white, like milk. If it’s yellow, and even speckled, it means it was underexposed. You need to spit the oil into the toilet: this liquid is truly poisonous.

Regular sucking of sunflower oil, according to studies, allows you to cope with a whole range of diseases. It clears colds and relieves sore throat, cleanses the blood and blood vessels, improves the functioning of the liver, kidneys, lungs and heart. And it helps to improve the overall health of the body and strengthen the defenses.

One condition: it is contraindicated to engage in such cleansing in the presence of gastrointestinal diseases - an exacerbation may begin. Therefore, before treatment, it is better to visit a gastroenterologist.

There is an alternative opinion about oil sucking:

What happens if you drink oil?

What happens if you drink sunflower oil? This question worries many - those who want to start oil cleansing of the body (what if I accidentally swallow it?), and simply be treated with a sunflower product, and even schoolchildren who dream of skipping a day or two (how to get sick briefly and safely?).

Oil differs from oil - that's the point. The most dangerous thing is to accidentally swallow the already white, toxic butter that you have been chewing for 20 minutes. In this case, all viruses and toxins will enter the body and may even cause poisoning.
If you periodically drink 1-3 spoons a day, then there will be no harm; on the contrary, the intestines will work even better.
But if you drink a whole glass, the body can react in the most unpredictable way. The most common consequences are nausea and vomiting. Often - severe diarrhea, you are guaranteed several hours of endless time in the toilet. And if you have gastrointestinal ailments, then it’s quite possible for them to get worse.

Treatment with sunflower oil

Cleansing the body is not the only method of treatment using oil squeeze. Sunflower oil is very effective against constipation.

To activate the intestines, you need to take one tablespoon of oily liquid per day. There are several options: either dilute it in a glass of water, or mix it with kefir, or simply add it to salads and cereals (do not heat it!). In severe cases, you can give an enema: heat 100 ml to 47 degrees and administer the enema at night. After the procedure, lie down for 10-15 minutes.

If a sore throat starts, you can prepare the following medicine: mix a teaspoon of unrefined sunflower oil and aloe juice and apply to the throat. Do not use for children!

And if your gums are inflamed or you have bad breath, you can prepare the following rinse: 2 large tablespoons of oil, a tablespoon of sea salt, stir well. Rinse your mouth for 5 minutes before going to bed.

The benefits of sunflower oil for hair...

Sunflower oil for hair is a simple, cheap and effective way to care for both luxurious long curls and a stylish short haircut. Healthy fats and vitamins in the oil nourish the scalp, protect hair from the harmful effects of wind, sun and frost, improve the appearance of hair, and help cure brittle and split hairs.

Oil treatment is most useful for dry hair, but you can find mask options for other types. Here are the simplest and most effective recipes for sunflower hair care.

Sunflower oil mask for dry hair

Grind two fresh chicken yolks with 5 ml of tincture, pour in a couple of tablespoons of oil and stir. Apply to strands along the entire length, leave for 15-20 minutes and wash your hair as usual.

Universal hair mask made from sunflower oil

Mix the juice of a large lemon, 3-4 large spoons of oil base and 3-4 drops. Distribute over the entire length of the curls, after half an hour, rinse thoroughly.

...and for the skin

Sunflower oil for the face is as popular as other oil products. Its regular use helps make the skin more elastic, smooth out the first wrinkles, even out the complexion, and remove flaking.

Oil spa treatments are especially useful in winter - compresses made from warm sunflower oil are recommended for dry skin. Place a napkin soaked in liquid on your face, rest for half an hour, then wash it off.

Another classic traditional medicine recipe is sunflower oil for tanning. Today there are countless body care products for the beach season, but simple oil is a proven and effective classic. It has plenty of advantages: it nourishes the skin, does not wash off even after 2-3 swims, and protects against the destructive effects of ultraviolet radiation.

For an even and safe tan, the oil should be applied half an hour before going to the beach. We start with the legs, spread a thin even layer over the body, and lastly – the neck and face. Then blot with a napkin and wait until it is absorbed.

What do the reviews say?

Sunflower oil for hair care can hardly be called the most popular recipe, but those girls who have tried it are happy to share their experience on the forums.

“I used sunflower oil for an experiment to take a break from... The effect is excellent - it reduces natural oiliness and significantly accelerates hair growth. noticeable after the 3-4th application.”
“I only use unrefined stuff for my hair! The hair afterwards is excellent - very shiny, silky, the ends seem to be sealed, like after a salon. The main thing is to rinse well, two times is enough for me.”

Reviews about sunflower oil for tanning are more contradictory. Many members of the forum advise against such experiments - after branded products, the smell on the skin is more pleasant, and there are more special protective filters in the composition. There is also a slight risk of irritation after using pure oil if you are prone to allergies.

There is one way to understand whether sunflower oil is right for you. Try it in a place where you can wash it off immediately if you don’t like the effect and sensation. For example, at your own dacha. And don’t forget to sunbathe according to the rules!

Understanding the types of sunflower oil

The production of oily liquid for culinary, cosmetic and medicinal purposes goes through many stages until the final product is obtained. And the types of this product that we choose on store shelves are very different.

Raw (first cold pressed). This is the most valuable oil - it has an incomparable aroma of sunflowers and a dark color. Ideal for vinaigrettes, ready-made dressings, pea porridge, salads, sauces. You can't heat it!
Unrefined. This is also a well-known product with a rich color and bright aroma. Unrefined sunflower oil, the benefits and harms of which have been known for a long time, is considered the most healing sunflower “option”. It retains all the vitamins, healthy fats, and it’s just very tasty.
Refined. This is the most common oil that we use for cooking, frying, parka and other culinary delights. It goes through a full purification cycle, so there are slightly fewer healthy fats in this oil, and in terms of vitamin E content it is seriously inferior to its refined “analog”.
Frozen sunflower oil. What is it and what is it eaten with? Yes with anything! This is the same refined product from which natural waxes have been additionally removed. It is perfectly transparent, very light, so it is well suited for salads and does not change the appearance, color and taste of the dish.

How to choose and store oil?

In order not to get confused in front of the huge shelves of oil products in supermarkets, it is important to know exactly what you need. How to choose sunflower oil? Pay attention to the expiration date, application, type and GOST.

You only need to buy the product that is made in accordance with GOST R 52465 2005. When the oil was made according to specifications, this does not necessarily mean that it is bad. But control during such production is less strict, so no one guarantees you ideal quality.

If you are looking for aromatic oil for salads and vinaigrettes, take unrefined premium or first grade. When there are children in the house, refined deodorized “Premium” is suitable; it is used for baby food. The most transparent is the refined hydrated one, which also has the longest shelf life.

Don’t be fooled by enticing labels like “non-GMO” and “cholesterol-free.” In principle, there can be neither one nor the other in a sunflower product; these are just marketing ploys for naive buyers (by the way, this is why we recommended sunflower lecithin instead of soy lecithin in the article about). Why do you need a product from a manufacturer that doesn’t respect you?

How to store sunflower oil at home? This is another important point in housekeeping. First of all, look at the type of oil. Unrefined can be safely used for 3-4 months, refined will last up to 10 months or even more. It must be kept at a temperature from +5 to +20ºC, or in the refrigerator. And if the refined one feels great in a store-bought plastic bottle, then the smelly unrefined one is better to pour into a glass bottle immediately after purchase.

Ecology of consumption. The production of vegetable oil is a huge business, the scale of which requires quick returns at minimal cost....

I urge people to think more and more when using conventional products and, after reading this article, answer the question: do we need such a product that it gives us something useful and valuable?

The production of vegetable oil is a huge business, the scale of which requires quick returns at minimal cost. This means that modern manufacturers are forced to use technologies that will allow them to obtain the final product in the shortest possible time, sacrificing its nutritional value and usefulness. At the same time, you received in addition not only a useless, but also an extremely harmful product for the human body. And if so, is there any point in using it at all?

This is what happens in the production of refined vegetable oil: extraction using a petrochemical solvent (usually hexane), then they try to evaporate this solvent, but there is no certainty that it is completely removed. Hexane is very toxic.

Next is refining - depriving it of useful resinous and sticky substances. The process of hydration removes lecithin (a critical element for every cell in the body), chlorophyll, vitamin E and minerals. Actually, everything that is most important for our body is why this oil was previously produced.

But that's not all. Since the oil is not yet completely “killed”, then for the final separation of important nutrients, which are an undesirable substance, an alkaline solution is added to it, and for decolorization, diatomaceous earth is added (this is an integral part of dynamite, made famous by Alfred Nobel, which is diatomite soaked nitroglycerin)

The diatomaceous earth is then filtered from the oil along with carotene (vitamin A), chlorophyll and remaining nutrients. The purification is complete.

After this, the oil is subjected to deodorization at temperatures above 230 degrees, then it is purified into fractions by cooling. This process is called demargarinization. The resulting product is devoid of everything that nature has endowed it with, including color, smell, taste and does not have any nutritional value for the body.

Is this how food is produced?

In the process of such “purification”, fatty acid molecules are broken and twisted, which leads to the creation of molecules - freaks - trans isomers of fatty acids, or trans fats. Refined oils contain up to 25% trans fats! These substances do not exist in nature! Therefore, the body does not know how to cope with them and cannot remove them out. Over the years, they accumulate and create big problems for the owner of the body: trans fats are extremely toxic and give rise to serious consequences - stress, atherosclerosis, ischemia, heart disease, cancer, hormonal imbalances (for example, obesity), etc.

Frying in any vegetable oil radically changes its composition. At a temperature of 200-250 C° (approximately this temperature is a hot frying pan), the formation of carcinogenic substances occurs and there is no point in talking about the biological value of the product. Fat is inevitably absorbed and transfers carcinogens to the main product - cutlet, potatoes, etc.

I hope that I was able to convince you that the harm of refined oil is obvious, and the choice of what to fry food on is the main issue of proper, reasonable nutrition. Experts advise using ghee or lard as the safest, and it is better to avoid frying altogether.

I recently switched to pork fat, which I render at home myself. and real peasant oil made from dried sunflower seeds (I buy it at the market from the manufacturer).

But I add sunflower oil (real peasant oil made from dried sunflower seeds, which I buy at the market from the manufacturer) to baked goods instead of butter or margarine - it has no smell or taste. Our ancestors have been using this oil for centuries, while refined oil appeared relatively recently.

Victoria Bushakova based on materials from Lena Radova's blog. published

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Today we will tell you about how sunflower oil is made and what properties this product has. We will also tell you what types of vegetable fat are available and what its composition is.

General information about the herbal product

Sunflower oil is a vegetable oil that is obtained from the seeds of oilseed sunflower varieties. This is the most common type of vegetable oil in Russia. By the way, our country is one of the leaders in the production of this product in the world.

History of origin

The evolution of oil sunflower as a cultivated plant occurred back in the Russian Empire. Its industrial processing is closely connected with the name of Daniil Bokarev. It was he who, in 1829, invented a unique method for obtaining oil from sunflower seeds. Four years later, in the Voronezh province (in the Alekseevka settlement), with the assistance of Bokarev, the merchant Papushin built the first oil mill in Russia. Bokarev opened his own oil mill in 1834. And already in 1835, active export of this product abroad began. By 1860, there were approximately 160 oil mills in the Alekseevka settlement.

Sunflower oil production

As mentioned above, the source of oil is sunflower seeds. Most oil extraction plants produce this product using the following technology:

In a special crusher-broom department, seeds are cleaned from various debris. Hulling also occurs in it, as well as separation of the husks from the kernels.
In the roller shop, all kernels are passed through rollers. As a result of this processing, mint is obtained. Subsequently, it is transported to the press department.

In it, the mint undergoes heat treatment in special roasting pans. Then the raw materials enter the presses, where, in fact, the press oil is pressed. Subsequently, it is sent for storage and sedimentation. As for the resulting mass, called pulp, which has a high residual oil content (approximately 22%), it is fed to the oil extraction shop. If the pulp has been squeezed to a residual oil content of 8-9%, this product is called cake. In some cases, in the oil extraction shop, the mint is sent to the fryer using a conveyor. There it is subjected to heat treatment, or so-called toasting. After pressing, the pulp is immediately sent to the extractor.
Extraction of vegetable oil is carried out in a special apparatus called an extractor. This process is carried out using organic solvents. As a result, a so-called miscella is obtained, as well as a solid fat-free residue, which is wetted with a solvent (that is, meal). Subsequently, the oil is distilled from them in an extractor.

After the pressing and extraction shops, the oil product is subjected to subsequent purification or refining. In other words, the oil is purified from various organic impurities. Such methods usually include centrifugation, sedimentation, filtration, hydration, alkaline and sulfuric acid refining, deodorization, bleaching and freezing (that is, the oil is cooled to 10-12 degrees to form wax crystals, which are subsequently filtered).

As for sunflower cake, very valuable meal is obtained from it. Meal is a high-protein feed product that is included in the diet of livestock, fish and poultry. The crude protein content in it is about 30-41% and quite strongly depends on the degree of purification and processing of the mint, as well as the class of raw materials used.

As you can see, sunflower oil production is not an easy process. Despite this, this product is available to everyone.

Properties of vegetable oil

Almost all sunflower oils have the same properties. The raw product has a pleasant aroma and taste. Its density at 10 degrees is 920-927 kg per m3. The pour point ranges from -16 to -19 degrees. The temperature at which sunflower oils smoke is 232 degrees. The kinematic viscosity of the product occurs at 20 degrees.

It should also be noted that sunflower oil is classified as a semi-drying vegetable oil. When exposed to oxygen (at room temperature), it forms a soft and sticky film. By the way, semi-drying oils include not only sunflower oil, but also soybean, safflower, camelina, poppy seed, etc.

There are two types of unrefined sunflower oil: pressed (that is, obtained by cold pressing) and extraction. As a rule, it is produced at oil extraction plants.

Composition of the product

What composition do sunflower oils have? The manufacturers of this product note that it contains a huge amount of fatty acids, namely stearic, palmitic, myristic, arachidic, oleic, linoleic, linolenic. At the same time, it contains only 1% omega-3 of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Omega-6 content also predominates in sunflower oil.

The benefits of sunflower oil are directly related to its composition. For example, it contains a large amount of vitamin E, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive tract and the condition of the skin.

It should be especially noted that sunflower oil (refined and unrefined) cannot contain cholesterol. This is due to the fact that it is exclusively of plant origin. Despite this, many manufacturers specifically emphasize its absence. This is for advertising purposes.

Types of oils

What types of sunflower oils are there? Manufacturers produce unrefined and refined products. How are they different from each other? Not all housewives know the answer to this question. Therefore, we decided to present this information below.

Unrefined or refined?

Everyone knows that vegetable oils are very beneficial for health. Unlike Soviet times, today you can find completely different types of these products in stores. But how to choose the right one among the many oils?

The main difference between oils produced from the same raw materials is the degree of purification. Both refined (that is, completely purified through several stages) and unrefined sunflower oil, the purification of which is limited only by mechanical filtration, are sold.

There is an opinion that the first option is completely useless for health. But that's not true. The fact is that the degree of usefulness of a given product is determined by its fatty acid composition. So, during the refining process, the composition of vegetable oil, as well as the ratio of its fats and acids, does not change. In view of this fact, we can safely say that if an oil is useless, then it is useless in any form (be it refined or unrefined). And the degree of purification does not affect this in any way.

Product Application

In the period from 2007 to 2008 agricultural year, about 10 million tons of sunflower oil were produced in the world. This product is one of the most important vegetable oils in the post-Soviet space. This is due to the fact that it is of great economic importance.

As for cooking, refined and unrefined sunflower oil can be used for frying, as well as dressing various salads. In addition, cooking fats and margarine are made from it (by hydrogenation). Sunflower oil is also used in the production of canned food, as well as in the paint and varnish industry and soap making. Moreover, it is included in many ointments.

Let's sum it up

A spoonful of sunflower oil contains a huge amount of fatty acids and vitamin E. By regularly eating this product, you can forget about digestive problems forever. By the way, sunflower oil is a very popular ingredient in folk medicine. It is used to relieve severe constipation (by taking it orally or doing enemas), as well as to make the skin smooth. If your hands or face are chapped, then lubricate them with sunflower oil and leave for a while. After several procedures, you will notice that your skin has become soft, smooth and silky, and there is no trace of chapping left.

Thus, by purchasing high-quality refined or unrefined sunflower oil, you can not only prepare delicious dishes, but also noticeably improve your health.

Sunflower oil is the most popular vegetable oil in our country. Most people buy and use refined sunflower oil, which can be used for frying, adding it to baked goods, and dressing salads. This oil has many advantages (it is stored longer, has no odor, and can be used for frying) and one big drawback - it has much fewer beneficial properties than unrefined sunflower oil. In terms of its benefits to the human body, unrefined sunflower oil is not inferior to other vegetable oils (and others), and in some properties it even significantly surpasses them. It is unrefined sunflower oil that will be discussed in this article.

Description of sunflower oil:
Like many vegetable crops (,), sunflower appeared in our country during the reign of Peter I, and for some time remained an ornamental plant. Gradually they began to eat sunflower seeds. And only in 1829 the peasant Daniil Bokarev decided to get oil from them. In just a few years, sunflower oil has become the most popular in Russia and remains so to this day.
Unrefined sunflower oil is obtained by cold or hot pressing. Cold-pressed oil is usually produced at home; it has a very short shelf life, light yellow color, and a pleasant aroma of seeds. Mostly unrefined hot-pressed sunflower oil is produced on an industrial scale. This oil has a brighter color, and a rich taste and aroma of roasted seeds. As a rule, unrefined sunflower oil contains a small sediment. This type of oil has many beneficial properties, but, unfortunately, it also has contraindications. For culinary purposes, unrefined sunflower oil is used only for salad dressings; it cannot be subjected to heat treatment. This oil is used not only in cooking, it is a component of a huge number of traditional medicine recipes, and is also often used in cosmetology.

Composition of sunflower oil:
Unrefined sunflower oil is rich in saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, especially polyunsaturated linoleic acid. It contains, D, group B. There is several times more vitamin in sunflower oil than in.

Calorie content of sunflower oil:
The calorie content of unrefined sunflower oil is about 900 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Beneficial properties of sunflower oil:

Unsaturated fatty acids contained in unrefined sunflower oil are involved in the formation of cell membranes and nerve fibers, that is, they are important for the entire human body.

Sunflower oil has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, helps lower cholesterol levels, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, and serves as a preventive measure for atherosclerosis, thrombosis, heart attacks and other diseases of the blood vessels and heart.

It has a positive effect on brain function, improves mental abilities and memory.

Helps improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, cope with constipation, and is useful for gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Experts recommend consuming unrefined sunflower oil for arthritis, rheumatism and gout.

This type of oil has a positive effect on the human endocrine and genitourinary systems.

Despite the high calorie content of unrefined sunflower oil, it is recommended for people with excess body weight and those who are watching their weight.

Sunflower oil improves skin condition and...

It is recommended to include it in the diet of children.

Regular consumption of unrefined sunflower oil helps protect the body from premature aging.

Sunflower oil contraindications:
Unrefined sunflower oil, like other vegetable oils, should be consumed no more than 20 grams per day, but regularly. Excessive use of oil can lead to disturbances in the functioning of internal organs. Before using unrefined sunflower oil for medicinal purposes, you must consult your doctor.

Recipes for healthy dishes using sunflower oil:
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Consume unrefined sunflower oil and others with pleasure and be healthy!

And a little more about sunflower oil: