Oil sunflower

The first crops of wild sunflower grew on the lands of North America, where local Indian tribes became interested in this plant. Residents began to grow a flower as a decoration for their homes, and later its seeds began to be eaten. From there, the plant in the 16th century, along with the Spanish invaders, came to Europe. Only 120 years later Peter I brought sunflower from Holland to the territory of the Russian Empire. Then the peasants did not know about the valuable properties of the flower and grew it in their garden only for beauty.

The real era of sunflower oil began in 1829, when the Voronezh peasant Daniila Bokarev invented a method for extracting oil from peeled sunflower seeds. This idea caused a great resonance, and after another 4 years, the peasant, with the support of the merchant Papushin, built the first Russian oil mill. A couple of years later, almost every province had at least one oil mill. Russia managed to straighten out its economy by exporting the product to foreign countries, where it enjoyed unprecedented popularity. At the end of the 19th century, production technology, along with refugees, came to the territory of the United States and Canada. From that moment on, the States have become the main suppliers of sunflower oil.

The composition of this product is not constant and strongly depends on the climatic conditions of the place where the sunflower grows. In any case, the basis consists entirely of triglycerides represented by oleic, linoleic and other fatty acids. These fats affect the state of the body is not the least. They have both a positive effect and a negative one – the matter is in the daily dosage. By using vegetable oils, it is possible to maintain the health of the skin, intestines, reproductive system and other organs. The advantage lies in the rich vitamin and fat composition, as well as in the enveloping properties of the oil itself. A small amount of the product in the diet is not dangerous and has a therapeutic effect on the body.

✅  Prevention of osteoporosis – vitamin D, absorbed from vegetable oils, is involved in calcium metabolism and helps strengthen bones. This macronutrient is responsible for the beauty of nails and healthy teeth. Vitamin D is essential for the proper functioning of the endocrine glands throughout the body.

✅  Antioxidant action – vitamin E is valued for its protective effect on body cells. Under the influence of tocopherol, the health of the female reproductive system is maintained and the risk of developing her oncological diseases is reduced. To maintain reproductive function, doctors recommend including unrefined oil in the diet, which contains 12 times more vitamin E.

✅  Cosmetic effect – another positive effect of antioxidants has been noticed by cosmetologists. Vitamins A and E have found their application in the composition of cosmetic preparations used for skin rejuvenation, dandruff control and baldness treatment.

✅  Prevention of “night blindness” – the deterioration of visibility in the dark, from a scientific point of view, is associated with a lack of vitamin A in food. In healthy eyes, this element accumulates in the light-sensitive area of the retina and contributes to the rapid adaptation of vision to darkness. By consuming enough of the vitamin now, it is possible to ensure eye health in the future.

✅ The fight against constipation – the laxative properties of sunflower oil have long been noted by folk healers. But you can not use the product for this purpose too often, as you can cause a backlash in the form of diarrhea. For safety, it’s best to combine 1 tablespoon of oil and half a glass of warm water. It turns out a kind of emulsion, which evenly envelops the intestinal contents and facilitates its movement.

✅  Strengthening the walls of the intestines – the intestines are a breeding ground for harmful bacteria that cause various digestive problems. The oily structure of sunflower seed pomace coats the intestinal wall, preventing the spread of microbes. Thus, the oil plays the role of a natural barrier between bacteria and the delicate intestinal wall.

✅  Normalization of the stomach – any inflammatory diseases of the stomach are an indication for taking vegetable oils in small quantities. The product, enveloping the irritated gastric wall, “calms” and protects it from damage by coarse food, which alleviates pain.

✅  The fight against gout – vitamin D, regulating phosphorus-calcium metabolism, strengthens the skeletal system and is involved in the regeneration of cartilage tissue of the joints. In addition, its contribution to the process of excretion of purines, which just cause the development of gout, is known.

Oil is not a universal medicine that can solve all health problems. Its useful properties are directly opposite to the amount used. The more product in the daily diet, the higher the risk of developing unpleasant consequences from its use. The list of harmful effects of sunflower oil is not yet impressive, but as the effect of fats on the body is studied, it only increases.

❌  The ability to cause cancer – when heated, fats are transformed into carcinogens, that is, into substances that cause cancer. For this reason, doctors are against the use of sunflower oil for frying, it is better to replace it with a safer olive or coconut oil. Especially a lot of carcinogens are formed during repeated boiling of the product. Given this fact, you should thoroughly wash the pan after each use.

❌  High calorie content – oil can hardly be called a dietary product, if you add more than 1 tablespoon to dishes daily, then a set of a few extra pounds is definitely guaranteed.

❌  The cause of cardiovascular diseases – the abundance of dangerous cholesterol in the composition of the oil make this product prohibited for those who are prone to cardiovascular diseases. Over time, the vessels clog with plaques, which leads to increased pressure and even more dangerous consequences – stroke and myocardial infarction.

Persons with pathologies of the cardiovascular system or suffering from obesity should not use vegetable oils without consulting a specialist. They are advised to replace sunflower oil with a safer option.

On the shelves of the store, the product is found in two versions:

1. Unrefined sunflower oil – has a bright taste of toasted seeds and a sweetish-smoky aroma. It has a thick texture and a bright yellow tint.
2. Refined sunflower oil is a refined version that loses its taste, smell and color during processing.

Regardless of the taste, both types find their application in cooking.

Chefs advise using vegetable oil in accordance with the method of obtaining it. The unrefined version is considered the most useful, so it is better to use it in its pure form and do not subject it to heat treatment. This oil is well suited for dressing salads, decorating ready meals and as a base for sauces. Due to the high amount of triglycerides, it is not suitable for frying, because when heated, the lipids dissolve, begin to foam and smoke.

Refined oil is free of impurities, so it contains more temperature-resistant fats. There are even special types of oils that have the optimal ratio of heat-resistant fats, which perform well when frying foods. It doesn’t make much sense to season salads with it because of the lack of taste and smell. This type is mainly used for frying, greasing baking dishes and deep-frying.

Regardless of the type of oil, the product bottle must be kept until the expiration date. And it’s even better to get rid of it 1️⃣-2️⃣ months before this period, since over time the product deteriorates from high temperatures, against which the chemical composition may change. After the purchase, it is better to pour the part into a small glass jar with a dispenser, which partially protects the product from temperature changes. In addition, you must not leave the container open, because when in contact with air, the oily liquid becomes bitter and loses its culinary qualities. The unrefined type of cold-pressed oil is stored for no more than 4️⃣-5️⃣ months, and the hot-pressed product is stored for up to 1️⃣0️⃣ months. Purified refined sunflower oil can be used for food within 1️⃣2️⃣ months.

It is advisable to store the product in a dark? place at a temperature of 5-18°C. Oil should not be allowed to come into contact with other liquids and metals, and different types of oils should not be combined in one container. Storage of oil in the refrigerator❄️❌ is unacceptable, because as a result of chemical transformations, a precipitate forms, the oil becomes thicker and conveys its taste worse.