1. Sunflower oil History
Sunflower oil extract drew popularity after it slipped into the Russian market, having come from Europe around the eighteenth century. Its popularity is credited to prohibition of lard and butter by the Russian Orthodox Church, making it a super close substitute during Lent. Before long, Ukraine and Russia were full of sunflowers as a major crop. Since the nineteenth century, Russia has primarily used sunflower oil for cooking. She’s also the leading global producer of sunflower oil extract. After scientists’ discovery on how relatively low sunflower oil cholesterol levels were, it has widely been used for cooking and as food additive in most Asian and Western countries.
Sunflower oil was for long highly dominated by inexpensive soybean and corn oil within its origin North America, which were most often hydrogenated or semi-hydrogenated to improve their stability in processed foods, such as potato chips. These semi-hydrogenated oils are commonly referred to as trans-fats. In around ‘70s, health-alert Americans descended to sunflower oil due to high proportion of polyunsaturated fats, hoping that it would reduce danger of heart disease and cholesterol levels in the body. By the 1990s, when the health hazards of trans-fats were brought to light, French fries and junk food producers shifted to sunflower oil use, in what seemed to be a head start for sunflower oil bulk production.
2. What is sunflower oil?
Sunflower oil is unobtrusive, tender oil with extremely minute flavour and has a soaring heat tolerance. High oleic sunflower oil smoke point is relatively high, making it favourable for sautéing and frying. Moreover, it doesn’t impose its own flavour on foods.
Sunflower oil, being one of the highly desired cooking oils, has drawn great attention from different sets of health experts. While some disregard the overall characteristics of sunflower oil extract, most applaud the sunflower oil nutrition value. Many renowned health organizations and practicing physicians recommend sunflower oil use as a healthy fat, asserting that it yields many health gains, including the ability to protect against cholesterol, improve your skin, reduce inflammation, and most importantly improve heart health.
Sunflower oil is commonly extracted from highly nutritious sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus). The seeds contain a vast range of nutrients such as significant quantities of vitamin A, E, choline, and folate.
Reportedly, the critical fatty acid characteristics of most vegetable oils, sunflower oil, corn oil and canola oil included, could sometimes be more inflammatory than not.
Fortunately, sunflower oil is non-identical. To begin with, the seeds used in processing sunflower oil extract are absolutely different from those found in any common snack aisle. Moreover, the oil may lose a large composition of its nutrients depending on the process of extraction.
The refined sunflower oil, though more stable at higher cooking temperatures, lacks the polyphenols and vitamin E in its unrefined competitor. Hydrogenation has been commonly used by most manufactures to further stabilise the oil. Whether hydrogenated or semi-hydrogenated, traces of trans-fats are still found in hydrogenated oils. Most chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer and heart disease are attributed to these trans-fats.
Given our commitment to safeguard sunflower oil nutrition value, we exclusively use the high-tech extraction process, supercritical extraction technology. This technology yields only high oleic sunflower oil (safflower oil).
Generally, our high oleic sunflower oil has an almost clear colour, with a light yellow in it. It has a minute flavour profile, tender aroma, and great heat tolerance and is very stable with shelf life and long fry.
3. How does sunflower oil work?
Sunflower oil is generally used in the diet as a replacement of saturated fats with unsaturated fat.
4. Sunflower oil benefits
There are a wide range of sunflower oil benefits, cutting across from general health, through skin to hair. Some of the many sunflower oil uses are:
Sunflower oil benefits for health
i. Promotes heart health
There is tangible affirmation that making use of sunflower oil containing high proportions of oleic acid as opposed to dietary fats with relatively high levels of saturated fat may lower the danger of having heart disease. The proposed proportion of high-oleic acid sunflower oil per day is roughly 20 grams (1.5 tbsp) in lieu of other oils and fats. Sunflower oil with less amounts of oleic acid seems not beneficial. The significant value of cis-oleic acid, a beneficial monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid given its health benefit characteristics such as prevention and treatment of heart disease and stability, reduces the possibility of cardiovascular disease.
Sunflower oil is listed as oil with less saturated fat by the American Heart Association, making it a suitable replacer of all solid fats in the diet, margarine and butter included. This could help avert heart disease.
ii. Provides energy
The sunflower oil is exclusively unsaturated with rich linoleic acid, making it a suitable source of protein and highly palatable for edible purpose. The stunning fatty acid composition in sunflower oil aids in maintaining body balance.
Unlike saturated fats which make one feel lethargic, healthy unsaturated fats are great energizers. Sunflower oil helps in the release of glycogen, an archetype of sugar providing extra boost of fast energy, from the liver into the bloodstream.
iii. Lowers cholesterol
Sunflower oil healthy benefits include lowering cholesterol levels. It is known to increase HDL (good cholesterol) levels, consequently reducing the danger of cardiovascular disease.
Most scientific studies report that replacing other fats in the diet with sunflower oil could lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol in persons diagnosed with high cholesterol. However, sunflower oil may not be fully effective in lowering cholesterol on people prone to atherosclerosis or having peripheral vascular disease.
iv. Strengthens the immune system
Sunflower oil acts a defence booster against infections by strengthening the plasma membrane barriers, making it more difficult for viruses and bacteria to penetrate into the body. The presence of beneficial proteins adds to the sunflower oil healthy use of repairing and building enzymes and tissues within the immune system.
v. Improves digestion
Often overlooked in digestion problems is the fact that most arise from cooking oils. Unlike sunflower oil for cooking, unhealthy cooking oils with little to no amounts of monounsaturated fats really cause stomach disorders. Sunflower oil is easy to digest given its extremely light mode, increasing the absorption rate in the digestive tract. It also prevents constipation. The high composition of linoleic acid, also referred to as omega-6 fatty acid, aids in metabolism control metabolism.
vi. Repairs the body
Sunflower oil consists of critical proteins required in the repair and building of tissues and enzymes for healthy functionality in the overall body system.
vii. May Fight Inflammation
Sunflower oil has been found to lower the severe side effects of most non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including gastric damage.
There are suggestions that sunflower oil could reduce inflammation. Anecdotal proof proposes that it can reduce inflammation in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Sunflower oil benefits for skin
–Non-comedogenic
Sunflower oil for skin application has widely gained popularity due to its non-comedogenic properties. It is highly absorbent without blocking skin pores. For most people, sunflower oil for skin doesn’t irritate any type of skin, making it suitable for normal, oily, dry and even acne-prone skins.
–Antioxidants
Using sunflower oil for cooking or applying skincare products containing sunflower oil equips the body with significant amounts of vitamin E, a strong antioxidant that protects the skin against severe effects of the sun, like wrinkles and premature aging and also from free radicals. Sunflower oil still contains high levels of the natural antioxidant, tocopherols for instance, making it superior to other vegetable oils.
–Skin-protecting barrier
Linoleic acid present in sunflower oil helps to conserve the skin’s inherent barrier, reinforcing its power to keep moisture. When topically used, sunflower oil benefits dry skin and eczema conditions by its anti-inflammatory effect.
A case study conducted on 19 volunteers aimed at contrasting sunflower oil benefits for skin and olive oil, both topically applied, reported that sunflower oil more effectively maintained the character of skin membrane while enhancing skin hydration.
The linoleic acid component in sunflower oil was found to effectively protect the skin against viruses, germs and bacteria. On another study in Bangladesh, premature babies were topically applied with sunflower oil. The results were that the infant mortality from hospital-obtained infections noticeably declined.
These sunflower oil benefits for skin has widely contributed to its global use, making it a suitable ointment attributed to its splendid skin feel, moisturizing properties, superior oxidation stability with high absorption rate.
–Wound healing
Sunflower oil inhibits anti-inflammatory characteristics which aids in decreasing skin roughness and redness. The high content of omega-6 in sunflower oil promotes the evolution of fresh skin outer layers while reducing inflammation.
In a research involving animals, topical application of sunflower oil on wounds was reported to hasten the healing process. The results were attributed to oleic acid, a would-be effective wound care component, present in sunflower oil. Further, Sesamol (also found in traces within sunflower oil) has been reported to consist of chemo-preventive properties on mice diagnosed with skin cancer.
– Fights Acne
Vitamin E and Vitamin A, both of which Sunflower oil is very rich in, are reported to be great promoters of skin health. The same vitamins, having antioxidants properties, have a key role in eradicating acne causing bacteria and regeneration of mutilated skin cells. Vitamin E may also possibly resist the operations of the reactive oxygen species thought to have a role in acne. The oil is tender and non-greasy, ensuring quick absorption through the skin without causing blockage to the pores.
Sunflower oil is also an inherent moisturizer that efficiently treats dry and sensitive skin.
– Helps Treat Eczema
If topically applied, sunflower oil brings forth exceptional anti-inflammatory properties. As earlier outlined, the oil has a key role in improving the skin barrier, thus enhancing skin health.
The vitamin E present in sunflower oil aids in atopic dermatitis (eczema) treatment. Some 96 eczema patients orally treated with vitamin E recorded great improvement, with a significant number recording a near remission. The oil moreover treats individual eczema symptoms, such as dry skin.
– Sunflower seed oil can reduce signs of aging
Sunflower oil for skin application may help you look younger for long. The antioxidants in it prevent premature signs of aging by hindering the UV lights from the sun reaching the skin. Vitamin E specifically covers the elastin and the collagen in the skin, reducing the occurrence of wrinkles and fine lines within the face.
The occurrence of high inherent tocopherol and polyunsaturated fatty lipids in the sunflower oil makes it most suitable for production of sun care products when compared with other vegetable oil options. These components portray objection to rancidity for a long period of time.
Sunflower oil benefits for hair
Use sunflower oil for hair maintenance has become common in the recent year. Most of the achieved benefits are attributed to the high composition of linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acid) which contributes to healthy hair growth. The same curbs hair loss, explaining why it is used for hair treatment.
Sunflower oil is often used to soften dry, frizzed hair and to add a gorgeous shine. The light texture of sunflower oil makes it a perfect conditioner. For amazing results of a silky and soft hair, the oil is massaged once a week on the scalp.
Apart from sunflower oil having a light texture, the odourless oil can efficiently be complimented with scented/ non-scented hair.
Some reasons as to why you should use sunflower oil for hair upkeep include;
Improves scalp health
Without a healthy scalp, furnishing and polishing the hair is absolutely useless. The scalp is the bedrock to the overall health of any natural hair. Its health determines whether or not your future hair will break or grow. It must be treated right and with dignity! Happily, sunflower oil for hair is loaded with all the essentials for a healthy scalp, and in high amounts, including Vitamin E. it also reduces the risk of bacterial infections which are a major contributor to dry scalp and product build up. Moreover, you need to buy sunflower oil if you want to reduce the chances of premature hair loss, male/female pattern baldness, hair thinning and alopecia areata.
Stimulates hair growth
No moisture in the hair, no healthy natural hair growth! Good amounts of moisture in the scalp are the pillar to natural hair development. Using sunflower oil for hair regularly is equipping this natural moisturizer, armed with various vitamins and minerals, to stimulate healthy and moist natural hair development. More so, the Oleic Acid in sunflower oil will hinder all hair breakages.
Eliminates frizzy hair while providing softness and shine
Having an unruly, frizzy unmanageable hair? The solution is in sunflower oil. Applying sunflower oil greatly moisturizes any type of natural hair, however unkempt, to give it a splendid look. It also gives the hair a nice and cool texture without either getting too greasy or weighing down the hair. Sunflower oil helps retain the moisture in the hair even during the harshest conditions of winter months, ensuring constant shine and tenderness throughout the year.
Acts as an emollient
Sunflower oil, like jojoba oil, significantly hinders water loss by being a non-polar solvent. It easily perforates the hair roots to block and retain moisture.
5. Sunflower oil side effects
When taken by mouth: Sunflower oil is reported to be LIKELY SAFE when taken through the mouth in right amounts.
When applied to the skin: Sunflower oil is reported to be LIKELY SAFE when smeared to the skin in right amounts.
Many persons do not develop or report any sunflower oil side effects. However, people allergic or sensitive to compositae/asteraceae family, such as chrysanthemums, daisies, ragweed, marigolds, may develop sunflower oil allergy. In this case, consult a physician before using sunflower oil.
6. Where sunflower oil comes from
–Plants
Sunflower oil is at times extracted from squeezing the seeds produced by sunflower plant. Though sunflowers are of different varieties, most of the sunflower oil is derived from the ordinary sunflower, botanically Helianthus annuus.
Sunflowers are indigenous in South and North America with the natives using them for food and as ornaments for ages.
–Process
Though there are vast processes for sunflower oil bulk production, the most recent and high-tech is supercritical extraction technology. This method produces the high oleic sunflower oil(safflower), which ranks as the most healthy of all sunflower oil. Sunflower oil ranks as the fourth largest oil crop in worldwide industrial production today.
–Products
Sunflower oil is commonly known as sunflower seed oil. Its colours range from crystal-clear to amber yellow.
Currently, sunflower oil has variety of global uses. Sunflower oil bulk producers often brand their products according to their specific use. For instance, sunflower oil for hair, sunflower oil for cooking, sunflower oil for skin and so on. This is to ensure that consumers buy sunflower oil intended for their purpose. Countercheck the use before any sunflower oil bulk purchase.
7. How Healthy Is Sunflower Oil Compared With Other Oils?
Sunflower oil has about 13% saturated fat, slightly more than canola oil and grape-seed oil yet less than cottonseed oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, palm oil, and soybean oils. Its amounts of saturated fat correspond to that in corn and olive oil.
To take advantage of the vitamin E in unrefined sunflower oil, it should be consumed raw. High-oleic sunflower oil has a higher percentage of monounsaturated fats as compared to polyunsaturated fats. Though monounsaturated fats are a bit more stable than polyunsaturated fats, only a few health researchers conclude that they are comparatively healthier.
8. Sunflower oil (Safflower seed oil) uses
–Cooking and frying
Since sunflower oil smoke point is high, it stands stout under high temperature. It therefore can substitute any dietary oil, chiefly in deep frying. The non-partisan flavour of the oil deems it perfect for baking. Most common uses of sunflower oil are: Deep-frying such food as chips and fish, cooking oil, salad dressing, vegan substitute for butter in cooking and baking, and as the select fat and moisture ingredient in baking such nutriments as cookies, cakes and carrot.
–Cosmetics like lip balms and skin creams
The tender and softness characteristics of sunflower oil make it a perfect component in cosmetics such as skin creams and lip balms. Other cosmetic uses include; Softener, Astringent, Moisturizers, Conditioners, Anti-Oxidant, Anti-Viral, Anti-Bacterial, Clarifiers, and Brighteners.
–Medicine for the heart as it is low cholesterol
Sunflower oil is used as a medicine to avert and reduce the danger of cardiovascular disease. It is also used for these other medicinal purposes; Anti-Viral Anti-Microbial, Immune-Enhancing, Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Energy-Boosting.
References
- Rai, A., Mohanty, B., & Bhargava, R. (2016). Supercritical extraction of sunflower oil: A central composite design for extraction variables. Food Chemistry, 192, 647–659.
- Danby, S. G., AlEnezi, T., Sultan, A., Lavender, T., Chittock, J., Brown, K., & Cork, M. J. (2013). Effect of olive and sunflower seed oil on the adult skin barrier: implications for neonatal skin care. Pediatric dermatology, 30(1), 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1525-1470.2012.01865.x.
- Kapadia, G. J., Azuine, M. A., Tokuda, H., Takasaki, M., Mukainaka, T., Konoshima, T., & Nishino, H. (2002). Chemopreventive effect of resveratrol, sesamol, sesame oil and sunflower oil in the Epstein-Barr virus early antigen activation assay and the mouse skin two-stage carcinogenesis. Pharmacological research, 45(6), 499–505.
- Saedi S, Noroozi M, Khosrotabar N, Mazandarani S, Ghadrdoost B. (2017). How canola and sunflower oils affect lipid profile and anthropometric parameters of participants with dyslipidemia. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 31 (1) :23-28.
- SUNFLOWER OIL (SAFFLOWER SEED OIL) 83%