Sunflower Oil benefits includes reducing body fat, moisturizing the skin, reducing risk of cancer, fighting germs, reducing inflammation, strengthening the hair, treating athlete’s foot and reducing early signs of aging. Other benefits includes promoting digestion, boosting energy and acting as a facial mask.
What is a Sun Flower?
Sunflowers have a scientific name; they are scientifically referred to as (Helianthus annuus) and belong to the plant family of Asteraceae. It is composed with the cluster of small flower with alternate leaves and an erected stem. You may have found sunflowers in varying sizes, but most of them are large in size and have a beautiful yellow color.
Its componential benefits differ from each other, but here in this article; we will talk about the benefits of sunflower oil. It is non-volatile oil and is considered healthy for culinary purposes among all types of vegetable oils. Though it is commonly available in the market, the main producers of sunflower oil are Ukraine, Argentina and Russia. It has gained popularity in the international markets due to its incredible nutritional profile such as palmitic acid, oleic acid and stearic acid.
Nutritional Profile
| Nutrition | mg/g | Percentage |
| Calories(884 | ||
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Total fat | 100g | 153% |
| Monosaturated fat | 46g | |
| Polysaturated fat | 36g | |
| Saturated fat | 13g | 65% |
| Total carbohydrates | 0g | 0% |
| Sodium | 0mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 0% | |
| Iron | 0% | |
| Dietary fiber | 0% | |
| Vitamin A | 0% | |
| Vitamin C | 0% | |
| Magnesium | 0% | |
| Vitamin D | 0% | |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0% | |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0% |
13 Amazing Benefits of Sunflower Oil
1. Cardio Vascular Disease
Heart diseases are fiercely rampant worldwide, and there are numerous reasons for it. While a lot of people are born with weak hearts, a majority of people do not abstain from living inactive lifestyles, eating foods that can destroy their mental and physical health. Inactivity and bad food equals to cardiovascular complications in the long run. But you can still minimize the risk by following a healthy diet routine. You don’t have to go far to treat such issues when some superb natural products are available in your surroundings. Sunflower oil contains a certain amount of phytochemicals, which are found to be beneficial for your heart. An appropriate amount of polysaturated and monosaturated fats makes this oil best for treating cardiovascular symptoms. The presence of selenium in oil is also instrumental in reducing the risk of hepatic degradation and cardiac problem.
2. Reduce Fats
As you can see form the nutritional profile of sunflower that it is rich in polysaturated and monosaturated fats. That makes it best for breaking down the accumulated fat in your body .It effectively maintains the HDL cholesterol in the body due to the presence of lecithin. The mode of mechanism is carried out when it adheres to cell lining and nerve cell.
3. Moisturizer
The viscous composition and emollient nature of this oil makes its moisturizing and this is something that your skin needs in a daily routine. Keep your skin fresh and repaired by using sunflower oil as its antioxidant source. Effectively remove dirt and free radicals from your skin using the oil. It is extensively used as dermal cream to treat certain skin infections such as eczema and edema.
Our dermal layers suffers the most from environmental exposure, but being rich in vitamin E, sunflower oil helps us to live free even in the most polluted of environments. It regenerates your damaged cells and keeps your skin safe from the harsh ultra violet rays of the sun.
4. Reduce Risk of Cancer
You are well aware now that antioxidants play a crucial role in skin nourishment. But its mode of action is not restricted for just your skin, it also steers you clear of chronic diseases as well. There is a compound found in sunflower oil known as tocopherol. This element eliminates free radicals form the body, cells that turn into cancerous tumors in the long run.
5. Fight Germs
Sunflower oil also has a significant role in our immune system. It boosts our immunity and makes us capable to cope up with extreme infectious conditions. It creates barrier and wipes out all foreign invaders from the body.
6. Reduces Inflammation
Reparatory illnesses can cause enormous pathological conditions and may become fatal sometimes when not treated at the earliest. Besides medication you can treat respiratory disease with sunflower oil. It has also been tested that sunflower oil can reduce the severity of asthmatic symptoms due to its anti-inflammatory property.
7. Strengthen Hair
It can be beneficial for your hair due to light viscosity and flowery composition. The gamma alpha linoenic acids strengthen your hair and prevent it from breakage.
8. Guards Infants
New born babies are highly susceptible to infection. And you can use sunflower oil to protect them from certain infections as its chemical nature is quite light.
9. Treats Athlete’s Foot
Sunflower oil can also treat superficial infections such as athlete’s foot. In this fungal infection you feel burning, itching and stinging on your foot.
10. Reduce Early Signs of Aging
The well known antioxidants in sunflower oil effectively reduce early signs of aging. It drives out all toxins and particulates out of the body and gives you wrinkle-free and spotless skin.
11. Promote Digestion
The market are full of cooking oil products that contain preservatives and aren’t healthy for your heart health in the long run. They contain a lot of fat content, which can be dangerous for your overall health. But if you include sunflower oil in your cuisine you will immediately feel how light your food is and how awesome you feel after eating, the difference between sunflower oil and other cooking oils is easy to spot.
12. Anti-Aging Face-pack
This oil goes deep into your pores and provides a moisturizing effect. You can prepare your own facial-mask with 3 tablespoons of sunflower oil, lemon juice and 1 cup of plain yogurt that effectively lightens your skin tone and removes dead skin. Apply this pack for 20 minutes and rinse with water.
13. Boosts Energy
Its rich nutritional profile energizes you while discharging the excess glycogen from the bloodstream.
Side Effects
Sunflower oil side effects are correlated with diabetes because it increases your blood sugar level. You can also see from their nutritional profile that it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids overly consuming these fatty acids can put you at a health risk.
Bottom line
As sunflower oil has light taste, it is recommended you to include in your cooking process to avoid certain medical complications. This oil can change the flavor of your food and you can use it to prepare your salad too. And the surprising thing is!! You can add sunflower oil in your cake if you bored with the flavor of butter.
