Health Benefits Of Sunflower Oil

Do you love to indulge in hot fried pakodas, but have been recommended by your doctor not to consume oily stuff, because of your diminishing health? Oil has always been linked to bad health conditions. Food items prepared using greater quantities of oil are usually strictly avoided. This is mainly because oils are rich in saturated and trans fats, which are harmful for our body, leading to many crucial medical conditions. However, such is not the case with sunflower oil. Did you know that sunflower oil is among the oils that help in improving the health of a person, rather than spoiling it? Sunflower oil provides a perfect balance of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it the perfect oil to reduce the levels of bad cholesterol. As such, whenever there is reference to heart disease, sunflower oil is always recommended by health experts. The benefits of sunflower oil are multiple and are especially channeled through its health-enhancing nutrient contents. Proceed further to learn about the nutritional value of sunflower oil and its potential health benefits.

Nutritional Value Of Sunflower Oil

Amount of Sunflower Oil: 1 cup

Total Weight of Sunflower Oil: 218 g

Nutrients	Amount
Calories
Total Calories	1927
Calories From Fat	1927
Fats & Fatty Acids
Total Fat	218 g
Saturated Fat	19.6 g
Monounsaturated Fat	125 g
Polyunsaturated Fat	63.1 g
Total Trans Fatty Acids	0.5 g
Total Trans-Polyenoic Fatty Acids	0.5 g
Total Omega-3 Fatty Acids	80.7 mg
Total Omega-6 Fatty Acids	63056 mg
Vitamins
Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol)	89.5 mg
Vitamin K	11.8 mcg
Choline	0.4 mg
Minerals
Iron	0.1 mg

Nutrition Benefits Of Sunflower Oil

Sunflower oil acts as an antioxidant since it is rich in Vitamin E. This property of sunflower oil helps in neutralizing cancer-causing free radicals. Vitamin E in sunflower oil also prevents rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and colon cancer.
The Vitamin E present in sunflower oil also acts as a moisturizer which helps the body cells to retain water within them. This property makes sunflower oil useful in various cosmetic products as well.
Sunflower oil, due to its high levels of oleic acid and low saturated fat, is considered and recommended for cardiovascular benefits. This, in turn, results in reduced risks of heart diseases. Studies have proven the fact that a diet with less quantity of saturated fat substituted with sunflower oil has shown cholesterol reducing benefits. The right balance between polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in sunflower oil reduces the cholesterol levels in a person.
Sunflower oil also helps the skin to retain its moisture. It helps in providing a protective barrier, resisting any kind of infection in pre-term infants. Studies have shown that infants receiving daily skin care using sunflower oil are less likely to develop any skin related infections.
Sunflower oil is rich in certain phytochemicals such as choline and phenolic acid, which are beneficial heart. There are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats present in sunflower oil, along with vitamins, which makes it one of the healthiest oil to consume.
Sunflower oil also helps in keeping the food fresh and healthy for a longer period of time. The oil can be used in extreme high cooking temperatures. Sunflower oil is being used by the food manufacturers for reducing the level of trans-fat in bulk production of food.

Caution

Due to its high content of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, high consumption of sunflower oil is likely to cause breast and prostate cancer in post-menopausal women.

Cooking Tips

Sunflower oil is very light in flavor and therefore, does not overpower the other ingredients used in a recipe. This light flavor of sunflower oil makes it a perfect oil to make pasta dishes, including shrimp and broccoli pasta and pastas using simple garlic and lemon sauce.
Sunflower oil is low in saturated fat and hence, is a safe and healthy oil to be used for deep fry recipes. Sunflower oil is composed of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, making it a healthier alternative for oils like canola.
Sunflower oil can also be used as a healthy alternative to traditional baking fats like butter, margarine and vegetable shortening.

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