Cottonseed oil is a modest but valuable gift of nature.

We often say: "vegetable oil", usually assuming that these words primarily refer to sunflower oil, which is so popular with us.

However, these words hide a very large list of oils extracted from plants. This is rapeseed, and corn, and, of course, olive and palm. There is also cottonseed oil on this list. It will become the hero of our conversation today.

For many of us, cottonseed oil is still exotic, while there are places - for example, Central Asia - where cottonseed oil is as popular and indispensable as we have sunflower oil. However, the largest producer and consumer of cotton or cottonseed oil is the United States, where this oil has long been loved along with peanut oil.

Cottonseed oil is used in the food, cosmetic and chemical industries. Drying oil is made on its basis (unrefined). In addition, it is used as lighting, where lamp oil lighting is used, and the so-called vegetable stearin is also produced from it. But in our today's article, we will first of all turn to those qualities of cottonseed oil that allow it to be used for the manufacture of cosmetics and food products.

This oil is extracted from the seeds of cotton, known to botanists as Gossypium hirsutum L and Gossypium barbadense.

To us, ordinary consumers, cotton is first of all familiar as the main raw material for the manufacture of cotton and cotton fabric, without which our modern life is unthinkable. This plant belongs to the Malvaceae family and was once taken out of South America.

The oil is extracted from cotton seeds, usually by cold pressing. The yield of the finished product is approximately 18% of the total mass of raw materials, this is a rather small percentage, which under other circumstances would increase the cost of oil. However, obtaining cottonseed oil is beneficial, since the seeds are still a waste product during cotton processing. Let's say right away (later we will return to this topic) that only refined cottonseed oil is used.

Qualities and composition of cottonseed oil

In various descriptions, you can read conflicting information about cottonseed oil. Some argue that cottonseed oil has a strong pronounced odor and a very bright reddish color. Others describe cottonseed oil as a viscous liquid that is almost colorless and odorless. Whom to trust? The fact is that raw cottonseed oil really smells very strong due to the very high content of non-glyceride components, they also give it a dark red-brown color. But after refining, the oil becomes very light, loses its smell.

At home, you can use this oil for salads, frying, deep-fried dishes. If you are fond of creating homemade cosmetics, then you cannot do without cottonseed oil - it has qualities that can rejuvenate and strengthen the skin, it is especially good for the skin of the hands. It doesn't have to be fancy, but generously lubricate your hands with cottonseed oil before putting on rubber gloves for cleaning or washing dishes. You can even add a little oil to the gloves. So to say, combine business with pleasure. When you take off your gloves, you can't help but appreciate the pleasant effect of cottonseed oil on your hands.

The chemical composition of cottonseed oil is very rich and unusual in comparison with other types of vegetable oils. It should be noted the special saturation with tocopherols, of which more than 70% is tocopherol A. Naturally, the composition of cottonseed oil depends on the raw material - on the cotton variety and the places of growth. But in any case, there are a large number of saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated fatty acids. Reference books talk about mixtures of glycerides of oleic, flax-butyric, palmitic, stearic acids. Thanks to this composition, cottonseed oil is ranked among the most useful vegetable oils. Linoleic and arachidonic acids are polyunsaturated, they are synthesized by the human body very little, cottonseed oil can make up for their deficiency.

Cottonseed Oil Refining

It is often also called plastic, it is noted that it is an excellent raw material for various types of salad dressings and oils, oil and fat products and margarines. Refined cottonseed oil can be stored for quite a long time, and in the process of preparing the listed food products, it remains homogeneous and is easily processed. Above, we said that only refined cottonseed oil can be consumed. Why? Because it contains the poisonous substance gossypol. It is its pigments that give the crude oil its dark, bright color.

Gossypol is toxic and can only be removed from the oil by chemical refining. In its unrefined form, even in very ancient times, cottonseed oil was used to treat burns. As for gossypol, there is an assumption that it will be possible in the near future to create a cure for a disease that is still incurable. Cottonseed oil contains about 70% liquid fats, and the rest is solid fats. When stored for a long time, they fall out in the form of flakes. If cottonseed oil is stored at a temperature of 0°C, then it solidifies and is stored in a solid form.

Cottonseed oil in homemade recipes

How to use cottonseed oil in home cooking? Just buy a package marked "cotton salad oil". You can fill both fresh vegetable salads and vinaigrettes, sauerkraut, pickled vegetables. The taste of cottonseed oil is very pleasant in salads.

Try to make a very tasty salad, for which you will go one apple, cucumber, radish. Grate the ingredients, salt, pepper, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of cottonseed oil.

One more recipe- eggplant caviar with cottonseed oil. Bake a kilogram of eggplant and one onion in the oven, pass through a meat grinder, adding a couple of large tomatoes, a few cloves of garlic, salt, pepper, season with cottonseed oil.

Cottonseed oil for frying ideally pilaf is obtained, for an ordinary pilaf pan you need to take about half a glass of cottonseed oil. In addition, cottonseed oil is added to the dough instead of sunflower oil and even instead of butter or margarine, the dough is softer and "fluffier".

Cottonseed oil in cosmetics

The unsaturated fatty acids found in cottonseed oil make it a very valuable product for dermatology and cosmetology. After all, these acids are very important for the metabolic process in skin cells, for stabilizing the lipid balance. Cottonseed oil increases the protective functions of the skin, strengthens it, improves its structure, and increases elasticity. It helps well when the skin becomes rough from wind and frost, showing its regenerating and softening properties and contributing to the production of ceramides.

All of the above qualities make cottonseed oil a popular and favorite base for various cosmetic emulsions, balms, creams, sunscreens. Quite often it is used in a mixture with olive and shows its qualities especially well in cosmetics for mature, dry and sensitive skin. Preparations from the oil are applied to the skin quite easily, absorbed quickly. Sometimes cottonseed oil causes allergies, in which case, its use should be stopped. In other cases, its effect is really rejuvenating properties.

In home cosmetics, cottonseed oil is especially loved by those who are fond of aromatherapy and the preparation of care products from essential oils. Essential oil blends definitely need a base - refined cottonseed oil or a cocktail of various vegetable oils, including cottonseed oil, is ideal for this. You can especially advise such homemade cosmetics to those whose skin needs more thorough daily care. At the same time, it must be remembered that cottonseed oil is comedonal, which means that its use should be combined with steam baths, cleansing masks and regular scrub use.

Probably, when you start using cottonseed oil, you will have your own secrets and recipes. Well, share with us, they will be useful to us too.

We are used to using vegetable oils in cooking - usually sunflower or, some dishes require the use of. However, few people know about the existence of cottonseed oil. This unique product is obtained from the seeds of cotton, which is better known to us as cotton, and it has many amazing properties. In this article, we have collected information about the benefits and harms of cottonseed oil for you - perhaps after reading this you will add this wonderful product to your diet!

Description and application of cottonseed oil

In our area, cottonseed oil is still considered a curiosity and is not in great demand. However, let's say, in Central Asia it is as popular as sunflower in our country. In addition, the product is produced and actively used in North American countries - and the United States is the largest cottonseed oil producer in the world.

Today, there are two types of oil on sale - refined and unrefined. The first, due to thorough cleaning, has a light yellowish tint, almost no smell and has a slight nutty flavor - thanks to these qualities, it is used in cooking and cosmetology. The crude, unrefined is a strong-smelling, reddish liquid. It contains many impurities and harmful substances, however, it also has its own use.

refined applied in:

Cooking. A great many dishes require the use of cottonseed oil. Most often, the product is used in the preparation of excellent dressings for salads, caviar from, pilaf, and some types of dough.
Food Industry. Cottonseed oil is one of the main ingredients of the well-known margarine. It is also used in the manufacture of canned vegetables and meat.
Cosmetology. Cottonseed oil is the "favorite" base of most cosmetics - balms, emulsions, creams, including sunscreens. This is mainly due to the presence of unsaturated organic acids in it.

unrefined finds application in the chemical industry. Lamp oil, lubricants and drying oil are prepared from it. Attention! You should not use unrefined cottonseed oil for other purposes - for example, cosmetic, and especially food! The unrefined product contains gossypol, a toxic substance. It is thanks to gossypol pigments that crude oil has a bright hue.

In addition to all these uses, there are Another - medical. It contains many useful substances for the body.

Composition of cottonseed oil (refined)

Speaking about the composition of the oil, it is necessary to mention its nutritional qualities. The product, of course, consists entirely of fat, and 100 grams of it contains 899 kcal. As for nutrients, cottonseed oil contains:

Vitamin E. And in huge quantities - 99 mg per 100 grams of the product.
plant sterols.
Valuable unsaturated fatty acids - stearic, palmitic, linoleic, oleic, myristic.

Thanks to these substances, cottonseed oil has many therapeutic effects.

In Central Asia, cottonseed oil is used for cooking. In the US, it ranks second in popularity after peanut butter. It can help improve the condition of the skin and hair. We will find out what are the benefits of cottonseed oil and to whom it is contraindicated.

How cottonseed oil is extracted

Cotton is a plant that has seeds. They are covered with fibers - cotton. 17-20% of oil is obtained from seeds with shells, 40% without shells. In production they are called raw cotton. To get oil from it, manufacturers use 3 methods:

cold pressing at low temperatures;
pressing after processing;
extraction.

In the 60s, cold pressing was used to extract cottonseed oil, in which there is no heat treatment. This oil was used to treat colic in babies. Studies by Chinese scientists have shown that raw butter contains gossypol. This natural polyphenol is needed by the plant to protect against pests and environmental hazards. For humans, gossypol is toxic and provokes a decrease in immunity. Therefore, 2 methods are used today to extract cottonseed oil.

1 method - pressing after processing

It takes place in several stages:

cleaning. Cotton seeds are cleaned of debris, leaves, sticks.
Cotton removal. Cotton seeds are separated from the fiber.
Peeling. Seeds have a hard outer shell, which is separated from the kernel with the help of special machines. The husks are used for animal feed, and the kernels are used to extract oil.
Heating. The kernels are pressed into thin flakes and heated to a temperature of 77°C.
Pressing. Hot raw materials are passed through a press to produce cottonseed oil.
Purification and deodorization of oil. The oil is mixed with a special chemical solution. heated and passed through a filter.

2 method - extraction

With this method, 98% of cottonseed oil is extracted.

Stages:

Composition of cottonseed oil

Also, cottonseed oil contains acids:

Cottonseed oil is good for health and serves as a preventive measure for many diseases.

Prevents skin cancer

Helps prevent prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common diseases. Cottonseed oil slows down the growth of cancer cells and reduces the risk of cancer due to vitamin E.

Relieves inflammation and heals wounds

In addition to vitamin E, cottonseed oil contains linoleic acid. It stimulates the rapid healing of wounds, cuts, bruises and scratches.

Improves the condition of the liver

The choline in cottonseed oil stimulates lipid metabolism. Their accumulation leads to fatty liver.

Stimulates the brain

The health of all organs depends on the work of the brain. Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, as well as vitamin E in cottonseed oil, stimulate brain function and reduce the risk of developing neurological diseases - neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

Strengthens the immune system

Reduces cholesterol levels

Cottonseed oil contains phytosterols, which lower bad cholesterol levels and remove cholesterol plaques.

Harm and contraindications of cottonseed oil

Cottonseed oil is not an allergen, but is contraindicated in people who are allergic to the Malvoceous plant family.

Oil consumption can cause breathing difficulties and anorexia due to gossypol.

To find out if there is an intolerance to cottonseed oil, start the first dose with a small dose - ½ teaspoon.

Cotton is a crop that is sprayed with petrochemicals. In the US, it is treated with dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane or DDT. Due to the excessive use of oil, it can lead to toxic poisoning, problems with the gastrointestinal tract and the reproductive system.

In 100 gr. cottonseed oil - 120 calories. Its reception should not be abused by overweight people.

Why You Shouldn't Eat Unprocessed Foods

Raw cotton seeds contain gossypol. This is the pigment responsible for the color and smell of the plant product.

Consequences of the use of gossypol:

How is cottonseed oil used?

Cottonseed oil, as a source of vitamin E with a pleasant aroma and beneficial properties, is used in various fields.

Diets and healthy eating 17.02.2018

Dear readers, recently we have begun to use different types of vegetable oils much more often - from flax and sesame seeds, almond, camelina, walnut and others. Cottonseed oil is not yet so popular with us. Although it also has its own characteristics that can be beneficial to our health and beauty. Today we will talk about the composition, the benefits and harms of cottonseed oil, how to take and use it.

Cottonseed oil is also sometimes referred to as cottonseed oil. As you might guess, it is obtained from cotton seeds. This is exactly the cotton plant, which we all call cotton and which serves as a raw material for the cotton industry. Historians say that cotton began to be grown for the manufacture of fabrics almost 5 thousand years ago. As a culture, it was cultivated in the territories of present-day India and Pakistan. However, oil from cotton seeds began to be obtained only in the 19th century.

Among oilseeds, cotton does not occupy a leading place - its seeds contain approximately 25% of oil, from which a maximum of 18% is extracted by pressing. But these vegetable fats from cotton have proven to be very attractive for cooking. Cottonseed oil has become the basis for margarines and other oils, and the special composition and properties of cottonseed oil have given it a special role in healing the body and in cosmetology.

Interestingly, cottonseed oil is very popular in some US states, and the whole of Central Asia uses this delicious oil in pilaf.

How is cottonseed oil obtained and what happens

Cottonseed oil is obtained in several stages. First of all, the seeds are selected and cleaned of fluff. Then they are crushed and heated to a temperature of 220˚C. Crushed and roasted seeds are placed in containers made of woolen fabric and pressed on presses. Now most often they use the pressing of cotton seeds in two steps.

They sell two types of cottonseed oil - refined and unrefined. In cooking, refined, that is, refined oil is used. It is golden or straw in color, with a not very pronounced smell, with a subtle nutty taste. Refined cottonseed oil is well suited for frying meat and vegetables, it gives a golden crust. For salads, you need to take a special salad oil - solid fats are removed from it.

Cooled to 0°C, this oil solidifies, and if it is heated, it melts and becomes transparent. This oil is also used for baking bread and for the production of canned food and fat-and-oil products.

Unrefined cottonseed oil is not used in cooking. It has an unusual smell, brown-red hue and it is bitter. This oil contains gossypol, a rather toxic compound. Unrefined oil is used to make drying oil, so we will not consider it further.

The chemical composition of cottonseed oil and its calorie content

Useful properties and contraindications of cottonseed oil are due to its rich composition. It contains many useful components, although there are those because of which they should not be abused.

Cotton seed oil contains:

saturated fatty acids;
mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids;
vitamins - B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, D, E, K;
essential oils;
phytosterols;
phospholipids.

Cottonseed oil is rich in saturated fatty acids, so this product should be consumed in moderation. And unsaturated fatty acids, which are of great benefit to the body, are presented in it in the optimal amount and ratio. These are Omega-6 acids (their 43% or more) and Omega-3 (about 30%). According to the content of these acids, cottonseed oil is more than 3 times ahead of olive oil.

Also, cotton seed oil contains a lot of tocopherols, a rejuvenating vitamin E. Due to this, it is a natural antioxidant.

The red pigment gossypol is found only in crude, unrefined oil. It can be poisonous, and in men it can cause infertility. Recent studies have identified gossypol's antitumor activity, but the compound remains to be studied and has controversial properties.

Cottonseed oil calories

It should be remembered that cottonseed oil has a high calorie content. There are 880-890 kcal per 100 g of the product. It contains practically no carbohydrates and proteins and, accordingly, a large percentage of fats.

Cottonseed oil has a pleasant taste, almost neutral, but at the same time enhances the taste of other products. However, with such a high calorie content, it should be consumed in moderation.

Useful properties of cottonseed oil

The benefits of cottonseed oil are already obvious because it contains so much vitamin E. It is a natural antioxidant that gives a rejuvenating effect and strengthens the immune system. The fatty acids in this oil are also beneficial for the immune system, have anti-inflammatory effects, and reduce the likelihood of allergies.

Other health benefits of cottonseed oil include:

benefits for the cardiovascular system. Cottonseed oil helps to strengthen blood vessels, maintaining their elasticity. Thanks to phytosterols, cholesterol levels decrease, cholesterol plaques dissolve. It is a means of preventing heart attack and atherosclerosis;
unsaturated fatty acids, along with vitamin D, help absorb calcium and phosphorus - this is good for bones. Also, the oil is useful for muscle formation;
polyunsaturated fatty acids give an anti-inflammatory effect, improve the protective functions of the body;
a high content of tocopherols and B vitamins is useful for the normal functioning of the nervous system, protection against nervous disorders and depression is provided;
benefit for the respiratory system. The oil helps to clear the respiratory tract;
polyunsaturated acids of cottonseed oil - nutrient, valuable in diabetes;
the oil has good wound healing properties, ensures normal tissue regeneration, heals burns, abrasions, insect bites;
oil practically does not cause allergies, helps to eliminate allergic reactions. Useful for skin diseases - dermatitis, eczema.

Cottonseed oil is especially useful for skin care and for many skin problems.

Vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids are the main value of cottonseed oil in cosmetology. Skin inflammation is removed, cellular metabolism is restored. This oil is suitable for the skin of children and adults.

Cottonseed oil is perfectly absorbed, does not give a feeling of oily skin. Its main cosmetic advantages: antioxidant, rejuvenating, moisturizing, softening, nourishing, protective, sunscreen, soothing effect.

Cottonseed oil is rich in phytosterols. They act as antioxidants, improve skin regeneration, and normalize collagen synthesis. This ensures the rejuvenating effect of cosmetics with cottonseed oil.

Vitamin E is essential for healthy skin. It affects the synthesis of melanin, eliminates redness, protects against ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Its rejuvenating effect is used in anti-aging cosmetics.

Linoleic acid, or Omega-6, keeps cell membranes intact, restores fat metabolism, provides skin hydration and protects its upper layer. Omega-6 also soothes irritated skin and nourishes it. Lack of this fatty acid causes dry skin.

Cottonseed oil is especially useful for aging skin. It transfers its silkiness to the skin, moisturizes well and at the same time protects the skin.

Soap is made with refined cottonseed oil - moderately foamy, wonderfully softening. Also, the oil is used in moisturizing creams (for dry, aging skin), face creams, cleansing lotions and creams after shaving and hair removal. The oil is used in sunscreens and after-sun creams, in massage oils.

In combination with olive oil, cottonseed oil will eliminate cracks in the skin and wrinkles, relieve dryness and flaking. It can be used in home cosmetics, combined with essential oils. If using cottonseed oil as a face mask, it is best to combine it with other oils to avoid clogging pores.

Cottonseed hair oil is very useful. It activates the bulbs, stimulates hair growth, eliminates excess fat. Useful products with cottonseed oil for dry scalp, with split ends of the hair, they make the hair soft and shiny.

For hair, this oil must be combined with base oils - olive, coconut. Proportion 1:10. You can add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil. This mixture is applied to the hair and wrapped for an hour. After washing off with shampoo. You can add a little cottonseed oil to ready-made balms and shampoos.

Harm and contraindications

Cottonseed oil has few contraindications, it rarely causes allergies. The main contraindication is individual intolerance to the product. In some cases, this oil can have a mild laxative effect.

Half a teaspoon is enough to understand if there is an allergy and if the oil suits your taste. And do not abuse it - it is still a high-calorie product.

Use in cooking

Cottonseed oil is suitable for baking - cakes, waffles, cakes. By itself, the oil is neutral in taste, but it will perfectly emphasize the taste of other products. Also, this oil is useful for salads, sauces, marinades, lecho, meat, eggplant caviar. In Central Asia, cooking pilaf is indispensable without it.

In this video - a recipe with cottonseed oil for Tajik pilaf.

How to choose and store cottonseed oil

You need to buy only refined oil. Look at the expiration date. It is better to take the simplest product without additives and flavor enhancers. The oil should be light and not very thick, without sediment (this indicates long storage).

Cottonseed oil is stored for 1 year. For home storage, use dark glassware. Store in a dark place. Over time, a dark precipitate forms, but this does not affect the taste and smell of the oil.

There are many vegetable oils, but only the main ones are usually associated with them - sunflower, olive, corn. However, there are other, less common types that you should definitely try once to appreciate their unique properties. One such little-known vegetable oil is cottonseed oil. The name goes back to the plant itself, from which the oil is extracted - the Cotton plant of the Malvaceae family. In everyday life, everyone knows it as cotton.

For the production of oil, only cotton seeds are used, containing no more than 25% of oils in their composition, and only 18% can be extracted by pressing. However, the production of oil from cotton cannot be called unprofitable, since in fact it is obtained from the waste of the main direction of cotton processing - the textile industry. So, separating the seeds from lint, cotton fluff, they are flattened on rollers, heated in ovens to 220 degrees and then the oil is squeezed out by presses.

On the market you can find oil of different colors. Dark shades are inherent in unrefined cottonseed oil, which is not used for food, medicinal and cosmetic purposes, because it contains harmful substances. Unrefined oil is cheaper, it is used mainly for the production of olives, laundry soap, and vegetable stearin. Refined oil undergoes additional purification, after which it acquires a light shade. It is virtually odorless, making it ideal for cooking and perfume bases. Also, with his participation, margarines and mixed vegetable oils are produced. Despite the exoticism of cottonseed oil in our latitudes, it is quite popular in its homeland, in Central Asia, where it is used as universally as sunflower oil.

The chemical composition of cottonseed oil varies slightly depending on the variety and where the cotton is grown. About 60% are phytosterols, and another 30% are tocopherols. The composition of fatty acids includes stearic, arachidonic, palminic, myristic, oleic and linoleic acids.

It would be a mistake to assume that cottonseed oil is only suitable for cooking for lack of better options. Having carefully studied its composition, you can learn a lot of interesting things about cottonseed oil: the benefits and harms of its components and predetermines its use in other areas.

Phytosterols, which are so rich in cottonseed oil, have the ability to reduce the absorption of cholesterol by the intestinal walls, which leads to a decrease in its deposition on the walls of blood vessels.
Plant sterols can lower the concentration of "bad" cholesterol in the body by 15%. This reduces the risk of myocardial infarction, cancer and atherosclerosis.
Unsaturated fatty acids - arachidonic, palminic, linoleic - belong to vitamin-like fat-soluble substances, in the old fashioned way called the collective term - vitamin F. They have a pronounced antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effect, restore the body's immunity, and exhibit wound healing properties. In combination with vitamin D, they contribute to better absorption of calcium and phosphorus, which is necessary for the formation of bone tissue. Indications for the use of vitamin F contained in cottonseed oil are diabetes mellitus, allergic and autoimmune inflammatory diseases, eczema and dermatosis.
The same unsaturated fatty acids make cottonseed oil a valuable component in cosmetology. They are involved in the production of ceramides by the body. Cottonseed oil is used both for the bases of homemade creams, balms and masks, and in its pure form, because it can cope with many skin problems and dryness, improves its structure and makes it more elastic. Cottonseed oil is the best carrier for other beneficial substances in cosmetics, such as essential oils. Due to its rapid absorption, active substances quickly penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.
The high content of vitamin E (99 mg/100 g) determines the good antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties of cottonseed oil. Vitamin E, or tocopherol, prevents early aging of the body, its deficiency negatively affects the nervous system. However, one should be careful about the uncontrolled use of it in its pure form, since its excess is also unsafe. Therefore, the most balanced use is provided by vegetable oils, among which cottonseed is in the lead.
For people who are allergic to nut oil, cottonseed oil can be an ideal replacement.

There are no products that do not have contraindications, due to possible allergic reactions to any of the components. This also applies to cottonseed oil. In addition, you should carefully consider the choice of oil: you can only use refined oil for domestic and medicinal purposes, which, in addition to labels, can be identified by a light shade. Unrefined cottonseed oil contains gossypol, a pigment that gives the raw oil its characteristic brown color. Gossypol inhibits spermatogenesis and can lead to reproductive disorders, blocks the activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of the body. And although an active antitumor effect has now been found behind gossypol, the study of this substance has not yet been completed. Perhaps in the future, cotton gossypol will become a panacea for incurable ailments, but today it should be treated with caution, because accidentally exceeding the maximum allowable dose can lead to severe poisoning, even death. Gossypol is removed during the refining process of cottonseed oil, so the refined oil is harmless.