Sunflower oil, its composition and useful properties. Unrefined sunflower oil

Vegetable oil is very popular in the culinary field and cosmetology. It is used in cooking, but not everyone has an idea of ​​​​what benefits or harms the product has. Let's look at the main characteristics, starting with the chemical list of substances.

Composition and properties of sunflower oil

1. The basis of the raw materials are fatty acids. They are directly involved in the formation of the central nervous system, brain, heart muscle. The most valuable fatty acids are linolenic, oleic, palmitic, peanut, linoleic, stearic.
2. A special place is given to vitamin A, otherwise known as retinol. This element is responsible for strengthening the immune system, improving the condition of the skin and hair, and the formation of bone and muscle tissue.
3. It does not do without the accumulation of vitamin D, it is needed to fill voids in the bones, strengthen teeth and enamel in particular, improve the production of thyroid enzymes and tone the entire endocrine system.
4. Vitamin E, which is present in large quantities in the oil, is a natural type of antioxidant. It belongs to the category of tocopherols and performs important functions. The main ones are the removal of toxic substances, increased blood circulation, stabilization of blood pressure, and a reduction in the risk of early skin aging.
5. Vegetable oil includes vitamin F in its list, it is presented in the form of Omega-6 and Omega-3 acids. Such a complex seals the vascular walls, makes the skin smooth and even, enhances blood circulation and removes toxins. It is useful to drink oil or add it to dishes due to its ability to neutralize the action of free radicals.
6. In addition to the above substances, the product contains lecithin, phytin, carbohydrates, protein compounds, tannins, fiber. The complex of minerals is an accumulation of calcium, zinc, selenium, copper, iron, magnesium and others. Despite the fat content, the oil is indicated for use in heart disease and atherosclerosis (cholesterol withdrawal).

Types of sunflower oil

Today, there are several types of plant raw materials, all of which differ in the way they are obtained. The oil is extracted by a cold cycle, by extraction and hot pressing. Cold-pressed oil is the most valuable.

According to the method of purification and subsequent processing, the following types of sunflower oil are distinguished:

Unrefined - which has undergone only rough mechanical processing, has an unpleasant pungent odor.

Refined - cleaned after mechanical processing, it smells neutral.

Deodorized - light, cleaned of sediment by a vacuum device, does not smell at all.

Hydrated - purified by using hot water.

There is no specific answer regarding which oil is better to use. Whenever possible, it is necessary to choose a composition that has the highest benefit.

Unrefined raw materials are considered the most valuable, but the unpleasant smell repels many. All other types go through several stages of processing, with each of which part of the benefit is lost (namely, the accumulation of fatty acids is reduced).

1. Vegetable raw materials have a beneficial effect on the state of the heart muscle, improves the rhythm, and reduces malfunctions. Due to this, the unrefined product is often prescribed for "cores", which are prone to developing a heart attack and stroke.
2. The composition contains tocopherol, which is otherwise called vitamin E. This substance acts as a natural antioxidant, removes cholesterol accumulation from the cavity of the blood channels, preventing their blockage.
3. When taking salads and other dishes that include vegetable oil that has not been thermally processed, the body receives a decent dose of Omega acids. They are necessary for the prevention of coronary heart disease.
4. Experts came to the conclusion that vegetable raw materials must be included in the diet of people who are prone to developing myocardial infarction, thrombophlebitis, and atherosclerosis.

Sunflower oil for bones and joints

1. Due to the accumulation of fatty acids, the oil has a beneficial effect on bone tissue, joints, cartilage. Its reception will have a positive effect on the condition of people with arthritis, gout, osteochondrosis, osteoporosis, arthrosis.
2. In these cases, the oil is rubbed into the affected area. For a greater effect, it must be combined with esters of juniper, birch, cinquefoil, etc.
3. If there are stabbing and aching pains from old injuries, the sunflower product is used in the form of lotions and rubbing. It will relieve stiffness of the joints and muscles, remove swelling.
4. In folk healing, healers use a composition prepared on the basis of sunflower baskets. To prepare it, collect baskets before ripening, dry, crumble, mix 160 gr. with 30 gr. baby soap. Now add alcohol at a rate of 1 to 5 (1 part basket mix, 5 parts alcohol). Insist for a week, rub the affected areas three times a day.

Sunflower oil for the digestive system

1. A natural product that has not undergone heat treatment has mild laxative properties. Oil lubricates the walls of the esophagus, making food easier to pass and not stale. From here, the frequency of constipation decreases, a complex purification from toxins is carried out.
2. Sunflower oil is used to treat mucous membranes from small ulcers. In this case, it is necessary to take inside the composition obtained by cold pomace.
3. In the product, unsaturated fatty acids make up the bulk of the volume. They are necessary to normalize the stool, eliminate flatulence, heaviness, pain in the stomach. The oil enhances the absorption of beneficial enzymes by the walls of the esophagus.

1. The seeds of the plant have an impressive composition with the presence of the most important substances for the human body. The raw material is saturated with phosphorus. The benefit of a plant product lies in the presence of a large amount of fatty polyunsaturated acids.
2. Active enzymes are necessary for the human body for the normal functioning of the reproductive and digestive systems. Oil has a positive effect on the general condition of a person.
3. A quality product significantly improves the condition of the hair, skin, and nail plate. It also strengthens the immune and cardiovascular systems.

The benefits of refined oil

1. High-quality refined oil, which has undergone deodorization, is actively used in cooking for frying foods. Such raw materials are considered dietary with a lower cholesterol content.
2. As mentioned earlier, in the culinary world, food is fried in such oil and dishes are preserved. The raw material boasts a mild odor, transparency and no sediment. Such oil can be stored for quite a long time under proper conditions.

The benefits of unrefined oil

1. This method of extracting oil from sunflower seeds means that the raw material retains the most useful qualities. Therefore, for therapeutic and prophylactic purposes, it is recommended to use just such a product.
2. Systematic consumption of the composition significantly strengthens the walls of blood vessels and cell membranes. The digestive system also begins to work better.
3. The oil corrects the activity of the genitourinary and endocrine systems. The product has a beneficial effect on hair and skin.

Benefits of cold pressed oil

1. This method of pressing seeds allows you to save the maximum amount of useful qualities in the final product. In this case, sunflower oil is widely used and in demand in folk medicine and cosmetology.
2. Cold-pressed oil is included in most hair masks and body and face care products. The composition perfectly moisturizes and nourishes the epidermis at the cellular level. Dry skin takes on its original structure and becomes more elastic. Increases cell regeneration.

Benefits of frozen butter

1. The presented oil processing technology completely deprives the composition of waxy compounds. Thanks to this process, the transparency of the final raw material is increased.
2. Frozen butter is recommended for people who follow a diet. Such a product contains a minimum amount of harmful compounds. It is quite allowed to fry food, stew vegetables and dress salads in oil.

1. In folk medicine, for the prevention and treatment of various kinds of pathologies, it is customary to take unrefined oil, which was obtained by cold pressing.
2. To simply and effectively increase the protective functions of the body, it is recommended to dissolve on an empty stomach in 10 ml. oils. This method is good because a large number of nerve endings are concentrated in the oral cavity. Saliva also contributes to better absorption of the composition.
3. To carry out the procedure, it is enough to take a dessert spoon of oil into your mouth and start rolling over the entire cavity. Do not swallow the product. Give the procedure no more than 2 minutes.
4. To fully strengthen children's immunity, it is recommended to give the baby 10 ml in the morning. oils. The procedure is especially recommended during beriberi and seasonal diseases.
5. The oil can be mixed into herbal infusions for the treatment of liver disease, constipation, kidney disease and gallstone disease. To do this, you can take 90 ml. oregano tincture and 20 ml. vegetable product. The tool also softens the condition with an ulcer.

Sunflower oil contraindications

1. It is worth limiting the intake of sunflower oil for diseases of the gallbladder and bile ducts. The product is forbidden to consume with diabetes, high cholesterol, diseases of the cardiovascular system and an allergic reaction.
2. Useful raw materials can significantly harm the human body if the rules of storage and use are violated. Do not take more than 60 ml. composition per day. Otherwise, the stomach and liver will suffer from an excess of enzymes.
3. Do not try to fry food in unrefined oil. Also, repeated use of raw materials contributes to the release of dangerous carcinogens for the human body. Observe the rules for storing oil.

Sunflower oil is quite a useful product if used correctly. Do not forget about a number of contraindications. Do not abuse the composition. If you decide to improve your health or get rid of the disease yourself, first coordinate this with your doctor.

Video: the benefits or harms of vegetable oils

Our compatriots heard about refined vegetable oil not so long ago.

The flagship in the expanses of the post-Soviet space was TM "Oleina" - its advertising appeared in the late 90s, or rather in 1997.

Until that time, there was no special variety of oils, only the usual unrefined.

It was used both for salads and for frying, though not everyone liked the taste and smell of such “goodies”, too bright relish gives unrefined oil to the products that are fried on it.

And yet, under the influence of high temperatures, it releases harmful substances that adversely affect the human body.

Having tried purified (refined) oil, none of the housewives returned to unrefined oil, at least for frying.

Crude oil today is used only for fresh consumption, which, however, is correct..

Affordable cost, economical consumption, the complete absence of smell and taste of vegetable oil, as well as burning during cooking brought national love and recognition to the refined product.

At one time, it completely ousted the unrefined from the store shelves, in which advertising played an important role.

She focused the attention of potential consumers on the fact that foods prepared with refined oil are dietary and low in calories.

It is good that over time these two types of oils divided the market, because, in fact, they are not competitors, they are both healthy in their own way, each of them has its own field of application, its own advantages and disadvantages.

Refined vs Unrefined Oil: What's the Difference?

The key difference between unrefined and refined vegetable fat is the way they are produced.

If we omit the details of the vegetable oil manufacturing processes that dictate the rules of ultra-profitable commerce, then ideally they should look like this.

To obtain the most useful unrefined oil, raw materials (for our latitudes, these are sunflower, corn, flax, pumpkin seeds, for warm countries, these are olives, sesame, almonds and other oilseeds) are subjected to powerful presses, that is, they are thereby obtained by cold pressing.

It will be a virgin oil obtained by cold pressing. But since it is impossible to squeeze out all the oil from the raw material in this way, an extraction method was invented to help him, which is used after pressing.

The essence of the extraction is to heat the remains of the cake, treat them with organic (I would like to believe in this) solvents, which increase the return of the oil, and then are removed from the final product.

Thus, re-pressed oil is obtained, it is no longer as valuable and useful as what is obtained in the first pressing by a press.

As for refined vegetable oil, the raw material for its production is an unrefined product. During forced refining, various impurities are removed from it:

• aromatic and flavoring substances;
• those that can precipitate and spoil the look of the finished product - phospholipids;
• pigments (refined oil is almost colorless);
• all waxy substances and the wax itself, which cause the oil to become cloudy;
• unbound fatty acids and others.

This is a brief description of the technologies for obtaining oils. Today, unfortunately, the production of vegetable oils is primarily a big business, which involves the use of far from harmless technologies.

They allow you to get a market product with minimal material and time costs.

In some varieties of refined vegetable oil, all components useful for the body may be completely absent, and very harmful ones may be present instead.

Therefore, any oil should be bought only from trusted manufacturers, and preferably directly at oil mills, if possible.

Vegetable unrefined oil - benefits

Crude oil is a storehouse of vitamins and components valuable for the body. It is very tasty and fragrant, makes the usual dishes richer, richer.

But it can't be on it! to fry, to get the maximum benefit, you need to use such oil only fresh.

1. Saturates the body with vitamins.

2. Essential fatty acids (which ones depend on the type of oil).

3. Supplier of antioxidants.

4. It is an excellent means of preventing thrombosis and atherosclerosis.

5. Stimulates the production of growth hormone in children and adolescents.

6. Regular use of such vegetable fat improves the condition of hair, nails, and skin.

7. Beneficial effect on the state of the nervous system.

8. Used in cosmetology for the preparation of nourishing and rejuvenating formulations.

9. Normalizes the functions of the organs of the reproductive system in men and women.

10. Increases the body's immune properties.

11. Improves the permeability of nerve impulses through cell membranes.

12. It is a mandatory component of a healthy diet.

13. Normalizes metabolic processes in the body.

Despite the obvious benefits of cold-pressed oil, it should be consumed in very limited quantities - a couple of tablespoons per day, but regularly.

Refined oil, of course, loses in benefits to unrefined oil, since it contains much less of those natural biologically active components with which the crude product is saturated.

But it is ideal for preparing dietary healthy food - stewed, baked and even fried, if you do not eat a lot of it every day.

Many are skeptical about refined vegetable oils, but without them, one would have to completely switch to boiled food, or quite harmful, fried in animal fats.

And so, refined, like the golden mean - it is universal, suitable for fillings and for thermal processing of products.

In conclusion, it can be said that there should be two types of oil on the table- one for consumption in its pure form externally and internally, and the other so that the food gives maximum benefit and pleasure to the eaters. Be healthy.

Several decades ago, in times of food shortages, the housewives did not have a question about which oil to choose for frying or salad - they had to take what was available in stores. Nowadays, the counters are replete with a huge number of varieties of oils from various fruits and seeds, which can sometimes be quite difficult to navigate.

Which oil from the assortment on the market should you buy, and which products should you beware of? Are all oils the same? And what is the cost of this or that product? the site and the program "Consumer Revolution" tried to find answers.

Myth #1: Sunflower oil contains toxins.

According to experts, on average, Muscovites eat about 250 tons of vegetable oil per year. This means that there is about 15 liters of product per person per year. Sunflower oil is predictably the most popular oil - it is chosen by about 60% of Muscovites. In second place is olive oil, which is preferred by 35% of Muscovites. And only a few residents of the capital introduce into their diet the so-called "exotic" oils: cedar, hemp, linseed, camelina, etc.

There are many prejudices associated with the production and consumption of butter. One of the most common says: sunflower contains few toxins.

Food industry experts argue that the presence or absence of toxins in sunflower oil rather depends on the conditions of production and storage than on the "natural predisposition" of the product to the release of hazardous substances, which, one way or another, are found in certain amounts in all plant organisms. If the product is stored incorrectly (for example, under direct sunlight or outdoors), secondary oxidation is possible, leading to the release of hazardous toxic substances - aldehydes and ketones.

Another danger that an unscrupulous manufacturer can expose the buyer to is the ingestion of benzapyrene, a carcinogen of the first hazard class, which can cause oncological diseases. The entry of this carcinogen into the body is possible when using a method of drying sunflower seeds that does not comply with technical safety standards, for example, using diesel fuel. In this case, the fat-soluble combustion products of the fuel can get into the oil itself and "poison" it.

Fortunately, for large industries, such mistakes are a thing of the past. Modern enterprises, as a rule, have their own laboratories and all the equipment necessary for analyzing the composition of oils. The buyer risks only in the case of buying oil "from hand", from an unverified supplier.

Myth #2: The best sunflower oil is in the Premium category

Some buyers tend to avoid purchasing "budget" varieties of sunflower oils, because they believe that the price and category are directly related to the quality of the product: the more expensive it is, the healthier and safer it is. However, experts tend to disagree with this view.

The main difference between oils of the categories "Premium", "Top Grade" and "First Grade" is the difference in the peroxide value, which reflects the degree of oxidation of the product - the lower it is, the higher the oil category. Experts note the extreme importance of maintaining the peroxide value within the normal range after the expiration date of the product, since this means not only compliance with the declared quality standards, but also compliance with storage standards. For an adult, the difference in the degree of oxidation is not so significant (2 mmol per kilogram for Premium category oil, 4 mmol per kilogram for Premium Grade oil and 1 mmol per kilogram for First Grade), while for baby food, you should choose the oil with the lowest index - Premium category.

Another distinguishing feature is the production technology. Premium oil (some manufacturers use the term "Extra virgin") cannot be produced by the extraction method, in which oil is extracted from the cake remaining after direct pressing with the help of reagents. But do not worry about the safety of the oil obtained using this technology: after extraction, the product is purified from all impurities, so it is completely harmless to health.

Among sunflower oils of various categories, the price range is relatively small, so falsifications are rare.

Non-compliance of the product with the stated requirements revealed during the examination can be considered as falsification - in this case, the buyer will have to deal with an unreasonably high cost, which, of course, is unpleasant, but does not yet indicate a threat to his health. According to industry experts, the most common method of falsification, which is resorted to in order to reduce the cost of production, is mixing more expensive grades of oils with cheaper ones. However, among sunflower oils of various categories, the price spread is relatively small, so falsifications are rare. Again, they are more likely to occur in small industries than in large companies with a good reputation.

Myth #3: Refined oils are devoid of nutrients.

As you know, the main task of refined oil is to be the basis for cooking. To do this, the product is specially cleaned of all possible impurities and odorless. The whole value of unrefined oil, on the contrary, lies in the content of impurities that are useful in its raw form, but dangerous during heat treatment - they contribute to the release of carcinogens, which were already mentioned in the text earlier. At the same time, fatty acids and vitamins in unrefined oil are preserved to a greater extent. This does not mean that refined oil is devoid of useful substances - they can only be contained in it in a relatively smaller volume compared to unrefined oil. Thus, it can be argued that unrefined oil is more suitable for consumption "raw", while refined oil is better used for frying.

However, one should not resort to extremes in choosing one or another type of oil: according to dietitians, during frying in refined oil, carcinogens are also released, but in significantly smaller quantities. To minimize harm to health, you should monitor, as far as possible, the temperature of the heating of the pan so that the oil does not start to burn, or bake dishes in the oven, where the required temperature can be maintained. Also, do not use oil that has already been cooked in for re-frying.

The use of frying oil with a high content of extremely heat-resistant oleic acid can significantly reduce the release of oxidation products. According to nutritionists, high oleic oil is optimal for frying and affordable in price compared to other varieties of refined oil.

Myth #4: Olive oil is better than sunflower oil

In general, the difference in the content of nutrients in these two varieties of oils is not so great.

Among the obvious advantages of unrefined olive oil over unrefined sunflower oil is a higher content of vitamin E. It is also worth noting that the ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids in olive oil is closest to the optimal ratio (approximately 1/13, while the optimal ratio is from 1/4 to 1/10, while in sunflower oil - 1/200).

If we talk about refined oils, then sunflower oil is in no way inferior to olive oil, and both lose to high oleic oil in terms of price / quality ratio.

Thus, the preference for one or another type of oil remains a matter of taste and financial possibilities (for Russia, olive oil is an imported product and costs an order of magnitude more expensive than sunflower oil). However, nutritionists insist that an excess of sunflower oil in the diet can have a detrimental effect on the body precisely because of the imbalance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids.

Experts also recommend paying attention to the packaging of the product - if possible, pour the oil into an opaque glass container (in which olive oil is more common than sunflower oil) and not store it in cans after opening.

Myth #5: "Exotic oils" are the healthiest.

The truth of this statement is beyond doubt by any of the experts. Indeed, the benefit of "exotic oils" lies in the mentioned ratio of omega-3 to omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids. For this reason, nutritionists recommend combining them with more familiar varieties of oils - sunflower or olive (or both at the same time). But still, "exotic oils" have a number of disadvantages:

Specific taste. Mustard oil may seem too tart, linseed oil - bitter, camelina oil - sour (camelina is a genus of herbaceous plants from the cabbage family). The perception of taste is subjective, and you will probably have to spend a certain amount of time to find your own among the "exotic" oils;

Price. Not only the time of the buyer, who decided to try the "exotic" little, is at risk, but also the means. Price range: from 160 (camelina oil) to 4000 (hemp oil) rubles per liter. One of the main pricing factors in this case is the low prevalence and growing popularity of such oils;

Medical contraindications. Flaxseed oil can be the most useful product, but not suitable for a specific person, and instead of being useful, cause damage to the body. Therefore, before including any of the "exotic oils" in your diet, you should consult your doctor.

The use of "exotic oils" has a beneficial effect on the body, but its choice, perhaps, should be approached even more thoroughly than the choice of refined oil for frying or unrefined for dressings for various hot and cold dishes.

Vegetable oils are considered a source of valuable vitamins and essential acids. The composition of an unrefined sunflower product allows you to get the substances necessary for a person for a balanced functioning of the body. It is worth understanding in more detail about the benefits and harms of unrefined oil.

Benefit

Refined oil is more convenient for cooking fried foods, it does not smell or smoke. But the refined product is inferior to the unrefined one due to the method of preparation - multi-stage purification. Due to its composition, the product has a whole range of useful properties. These include:

• purification and removal of toxins from the body, various toxic substances;
• lowering cholesterol levels;
• natural laxative - has a mild effect in case of difficulties with the stool;
• increase immunity, increase the protective function of the body;
• optimization of the work of the endocrine glands, as well as the sex;
• prevention of the development of atherosclerosis;
• improvement of the gastrointestinal tract.

Doctors recommend using unrefined oil for the prevention of gastritis, ulcers. Useful product for baby food. It can be used for preventive measures to prevent the development of rickets in children. Sunflower product is used for toothache, for the treatment of thrombophlebitis. Another useful property is a reduced risk of developing skin diseases.

The product cannot be called low-calorie, but due to its valuable chemical composition, it should be used in dietary nutrition. The main rule is to use in small doses.

Use a useful product not only inside. When used externally, the effect of moisturizing the skin, healing cracks is noticed. Unrefined sunflower oil strengthens the nail plate, the nails exfoliate less. The use of hair masks allows you to achieve softness and easy combing. Stimulating the roots with a small amount will provide curls with strength and stimulate their growth.

Harm

Unrefined oil has not only useful properties. If used improperly, a sunflower product can be harmful to health. What can be a danger?

1. The use of oil in the diet in large quantities. When ingesting, it is important to observe the measure. A large dose of the product may cause diarrhea, nausea, or severe heartburn. The optimal rate is 3 tablespoons per day.
2. Unrefined oil is high in calories, so it is not recommended to often include it in the menu for people who are obese. If you follow a diet, the consumption rate is less, usually 1-2 tablespoons per day.
3. Do not use the product when frying. Due to high temperatures, toxic substances appear in it. The longer the frying, the more toxins.

Important! Carcinogenic substances formed during frying are a risk of developing cancer.

Contraindications

Like any product, unrefined oil has a number of contraindications. You should be careful to use in the following cases:

1. Chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In case of an overdose, colitis and cholecystitis may worsen.
2. Do not get carried away with the product for diseases of the gallbladder and biliary system, individual intolerance.
3. When taking blood thinners, it is worth discussing the use of oil with your doctor. Taking the product on an empty stomach may increase the risk of bleeding.
4. In diabetes mellitus, the intake of unrefined oil occurs only with constant control of sugar.

In general, the product has few restrictions for use.

Can pregnant and lactating women

We have analyzed the benefits and harms of unrefined sunflower oil. Can it be used during pregnancy?

The recommendations here are the same as in the normal state. It is worth observing the consumption rate, do not use for frying. Ideal for dressing salads. During pregnancy, constipation is often tormented, so the use of a herbal product will relieve this problem.

The unrefined product is also useful during breastfeeding. Pediatricians and nutritionists officially allow the use of oil from the first week after childbirth. It is one of the essential items in the diet due to its high content of fatty acids.

Compound

Consider the composition in the table:

How to cook

Unrefined oil is best eaten raw. It is good to add it to salads, it is a wonderful, fragrant dressing for cold appetizers.

Another option for use is resorption in the mouth of the required daily rate.

Storage

When buying oil in a plastic bottle, it must be immediately poured into a glass container. In this way, contact with light and heat is limited, vitamins are destroyed under their action.

The bottle is placed in a cool place, the best storage temperature is from 5 to 20 ºС. Sunlight should be avoided, the container should be tightly closed. If the contents become cloudy, the taste and color change, then you should stop using this product - the oil has deteriorated.

How to choose

Good and healthy unrefined oil is viscous. If it drains, it leaves greasy spots, stripes on the container, and there is also sediment at the bottom. The low quality is indicated by a faded color, the absence of sediment.

Important! You can not buy cloudy oil, this is a sign of depravity.

Experts advise buying the product in the store, so it's easier to check the expiration date. On the market, you can buy a product diluted with cheap soybean oil.

High-quality oil can be purchased in November-December, as it is made from fresh raw materials.

What is combined with

Unrefined oil is combined with any cold appetizers, such as mushrooms or herring. Good to add it to salads.

An unrefined product is very useful, but a quality product should be chosen and not used for frying.

Sunflower oil is the main culinary vegetable oil in the CIS countries, and in the world it occupies the 4th position in terms of production volumes. In addition to the food industry, this product can be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. For the most beneficial use, you should know how to choose the best sunflower oil, the benefits and harms, how it is obtained, cleaning methods, and how best to preserve its properties.

From this article you will learn:

How sunflower oil is obtained

Nowadays, sunflower is most actively grown in Russia and Ukraine, respectively, and in terms of sunflower oil production, these countries are among the leaders. Probably, the reason for this is the fact that it was in the Russian Empire that sunflower developed as an oilseed crop. The invention of the technology for obtaining oil from the seeds of this plant in 1829 is the merit of the fortress town of Aleksevka, Belgorod Region, Daniil Bokarev. Five years later, the peasant managed to open his own oil mill, and by 1860 there were already 160 factories of this kind operating in the city.

Seed processing

For the production of oil, sunflowers of oilseed varieties are used. The seeds of these plants have the maximum fat content - this indicator is called oil content. The grain arriving for processing will be checked in the laboratory for moisture content, oil content, weediness, and ripeness. Processing includes cleaning, drying, peeling, sorting, grain grinding and oil extraction. A by-product of sunflower oil production is meal, a valuable feed product enriched with protein. It is used to improve the diet of fish, birds, livestock. Raw proteins in the meal can take up to 41% of the composition.

Spin

Pressing is one of two ways to extract vegetable oil from sunflower seeds. Compared to extraction, it is considered more environmentally friendly, but has a lower oil yield. This figure rarely exceeds 30%.

The mint obtained after grinding the kernels is usually heated in braziers to 100-110˚C, after which it is sent to screw presses. Depending on the thickness of the mint layer, the density and viscosity of the oil, the pressure in the press, a different volume of oil can be squeezed out of the grains relative to its actual share in the composition. Due to the heating, the oil obtained in this way is recognizable by the pronounced aroma of roasted seeds. It also contains decomposition and oxidation products, due to which the smell and color are more pronounced.

Without heating the mint, cold-pressed oil is produced. Unlike the product described above, useful substances are better preserved in it: antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, organic and fatty acids. minerals, sunflower oil salts. The disadvantage of this type of oil is that it has a short shelf life, which makes it bitter and cloudy quickly.

Sunflower oil pressed in this way is called raw. Subsequently, it is subjected to settling and filtering. This treatment makes the liquid the most delicious and healthy. The cake remaining after pressing can be processed into a feed animal product, or it can be sent for the extraction of the remaining oils.

Extraction

Obtaining sunflower oil by extraction is carried out by immersion in an organic solvent in the extractor. As a result of this treatment, two products are obtained: a solid defatted meal and a solution of solvent and oil, called miscella. Passing through screw evaporators and distillers, the oil is separated, settled, filtered and further technological steps.

Most often, extraction gasolines are used as solvents. With their help, it is possible to extract up to 99% of the oils contained in the seeds. Such a high efficiency is beneficial for manufacturers, so a sufficiently large amount of oil is extracted by extraction.

Refining

Oil refining is the general name for a set of technological stages during which substances are removed from the oil that give it a smell, color, taste and other physical and chemical characteristics. In fact, there are no mineral and vitamin supplements in refined oil, so sometimes you can hear the definition of “impersonal”. Sunflower oil refining consists of six stages:

1. Removal of mechanical impurities. It is always carried out. Oil that has passed only this stage of refining is sold as unrefined. Its purification includes only settling, filtering and running through a centrifuge.
2. Hydration and separation of phosphatides. It is a treatment with water heated to 70˚C. Thanks to it, swelling and precipitation of mucous and protein substances occur, which contribute to the speedy deterioration of the oil.
3. Neutralization removes free fatty acids from the product, which smoke during frying, turn into carcinogens, and generally shorten the shelf life. This step is also necessary for the removal of pesticides and heavy metals. An oil that has passed this stage can be sold as non-deodorized refined.
4. Whitening with organic adsorbents, most often with clays. They draw out dye components, which also cause oxidation, and the liquid brightens. After this stage, the oil does not contain pigments and has a light straw color.
5. Deodorization is a vacuum treatment with dry hot steam (up to 230˚C), which removes odorous substances that also oxidize the product during storage.
6. Freezing to remove the waxes that get into the oil from the seeds. They are especially noticeable in cloudy oil standing in the cold. After freezing, the product becomes even lighter.

Refined oil is sold not only as a food product, but is widely used in the production of cooking oils, margarines, sauces, mayonnaise and other products. In this case, the absence of a strong smell or taste is a plus, as it does not affect the quality of the final product.

The use of sunflower oil is not limited to the food industry. It serves as an auxiliary raw material in the production of canned meat and fish. It can also be used in soap making, although it does not have the best soap characteristics, as well as in the production of paint and varnish products.

Unrefined vs Refined - What's the difference?

Most of the sunflower oils sold today in supermarkets and shops are refined. Advertising, basically, frightens with the presence of cholesterol in unrefined oil, as well as the release of carcinogens during frying. However, refined oil is called useless by some consumers. Say, if there are no vitamins or minerals, why is it needed.

The answer to the question of which sunflower oil is best for frying is refined. It can also burn and create smoke, but its smoke point is much higher: +232˚C versus +107˚C. That is, unrefined oil will smoke almost always, and when frying on a refined product, this can be avoided.

However, scientists say that frying with refined oil is also unsafe. It produces trans fats that are not perceived by the body and damage cell membranes. As a result, this leads to the development of coronary disease, atherosclerosis, hormonal instability and oncological formations. In addition, such oil is useless in cosmetology, because it contains much less of one of the most valuable components in this regard - tocopherol. This antioxidant helps keep you young and prevent cancer.

Unrefined oil is healthier in composition, but requires special handling. It really is better to use it in frying to a minimum. But for dressing salads, making homemade mayonnaise and other uses without high temperatures, it is great. This is where the oil will show its best properties. The main thing is not to store it for future use because of the short shelf life, but to keep it cool without access to light in an airtight metal or glass container. After opening, it is best to keep the liquid in the refrigerator.

Useful properties of sunflower oil

The chemical composition of sunflower oil is as simple as that of most other vegetable fats. It is 99.9% fats and fatty acids, and the remaining 0.1% includes some water, vitamin E and phosphorus. Calorie content also corresponds to pure vegetable oils - 899 kcal per 100 g.

According to the content of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) in the diet, there are practically no products that interrupt sunflower oil. The benefit of this substance lies in the strongest antioxidant properties. Tocopherol prevents the destructive activity of free radicals, which increases the risk of developing cancer, and also accelerates the aging process in cells and tissues. According to the content of this substance, sunflower seed oil is ahead of olive oil.

About 60% of the oil is linoleic polyunsaturated fatty acid, about 24% - oleic monounsaturated, and another 11% saturated acids: palmitic, stearic, arachidic, behenic.

The presence of linolenic and linoleic acids is useful because the human body does not synthesize them on its own. Sometimes they are also called vitamin F, the deficiency of which is most common. Unsaturated fatty acids are essential for strengthening cell membranes and nerve fibers. In addition, they help to eliminate cholesterol and stabilize the circulatory system.

Medicinal properties

Unrefined sunflower oil of the highest grade, easily recognizable by its pleasant aroma and characteristic aftertaste, has the best healing characteristics. The presence of sediment in the product does not always signal poor quality. If it is formed by phosphatides, then it is useful for the production of phosphoric acid by the body and the growth of cell membranes.

Both folk and traditional medicine recognize sunflower oil as useful, offering it for the prevention of diseases of the liver and kidneys, digestion, thrombophlebitis, women's health ailments, heart and blood vessels, encephalitis and problems of the musculoskeletal system.

It is believed that the oil stimulates the intestines and to treat constipation, you need to take 2 tablespoons of liquid on an empty stomach daily in the morning. Rubbing and massage with oil are advised by traditional healers to relieve rheumatism. To enhance the healing effect, it is recommended to add garden wallflower flowers, rosemary herb or pepper tincture to vodka. Sick joints are advised to rub with a mixture of equal parts of oil and propolis, mixed in a water bath.

A burning remedy for the treatment of articular rheumatism is prepared from red pepper. It is crushed, poured with oil and kept warm for about 9 days. After shaking, the mixture can be rubbed into the joints, but one must be prepared for the fact that the skin will burn and redden.

With osteochondrosis, a remedy made from salt, sunflower oil, which are mixed in proportions of 1: 2, helps. After mixing thoroughly, they must be left to dissolve for several days, so that the liquid becomes whitish-cloudy. To speed up, you can use slightly warmed oil. This simple drug should be smeared into the diseased area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe spine in the first days for 2-3 minutes. Further, every day the duration of the procedure should be increased by 1-2 minutes, until it reaches a third of an hour. Thanks to the salt treatment of osteochondrosis, metabolic processes are stimulated, blood flow and the removal of harmful substances are accelerated, which helps to reduce inflammation and relieve swelling.

With an old cough, it is recommended to mix a tablespoon of honey, flour, oil, mustard powder and half a spoon of vodka. The product is heated and mixed for a couple, turning into a sticky dough. It needs to be kneaded and spread in a small layer on the chest through gauze folded four times, covered with a scarf or film on top and left overnight. You can warm up in this way a couple of times a week.

Traditional medicine recommends instilling sore ears with a mixture of sunflower and geranium oil in a ratio of 3: 1. For those suffering from sore throats, it is advised to lubricate the throat with a solution of sunflower and aloe oils. To restore the skin from cracks and diaper rash, you can make a sunflower compress applied to the problem area during sleep. Rubbing pressure sores with this oil also has a positive effect.

Despite the high calorie content, sunflower oil is not dangerous for those who are on a diet. In addition, stable functioning of the body is impossible without fats. It still won’t work in large quantities, and a tablespoon of liquid will not only make a salad with germinated wheat tastier, but also contribute to an efficient metabolism.

Harm and contraindications

The main danger of sunflower oil is carcinogens that appear during thermal processing. For this reason, it is better for him to choose a good alternative for frying in the form of an olive type refined or pomace. In salads, soups, pastries, dressings and sauces, sunflower oil remains harmless.

Refined sunflower oil can only be used for frying at low temperatures, up to +200˚C. At the same time, washing dishes after it must be treated very responsibly. Residual oil, when reheated, will contaminate the fresh product with harmful substances.

Due to the choleretic effect, the use of oil can adversely affect the condition of people with diseases of the biliary system and gallbladder.

Is it possible to treat burns with sunflower oil

Sunflower oil, the benefits and harms of which are wider than it seems, is mistakenly used to lubricate fresh burns. This is categorically false. The fact is that heated, burned cells need heat to escape. The oil creates an impenetrable film that prevents the tissues from cooling, in fact, clogging the cause of pain inside.

With severe burns, it is much more useful to wash the skin with cold water, which quickly draws out excess heat. But for the rapid healing of blisters and wounds left from burns, sunflower oil is suitable. It is necessary to mix it with wax from a ratio of 2: 1, warm it up until it is evenly mixed and apply it warmly to the wound through a napkin.

What sunflower oil is useful in cosmetics

In cosmetology, sunflower oil is rarely used. Perhaps the reason is that its availability and widespread culinary demand do not create the impression of an extremely valuable and rare oil, saturated with a huge amount of useful substances. In composition, it really loses to many vegetable oils, but this does not make it useless for personal care. Can be used quite effectively sunflower oil for hair, face and nails.

Thanks to fatty acids and tocopherol, the application of this liquid in a thin layer helps to nourish, moisturize, restore cells and enhance the immune properties of the skin. You should not be afraid of oily sheen, because sunflower oil is close in structure and composition to natural sebum. Thanks to this, by the way, it is well absorbed and accepted by the epidermis.

In general, this product can be used along with other vegetable oils in masks, hair wraps, creams and ointments. Cosmetologists note that this is an affordable basis for restorative and moisturizing preparations for hair.

Sunflower oil is suitable for removing make-up, as it perfectly dissolves cosmetics. Even persistent cosmetics, once in the country without special tools, can be removed with a cotton pad soaked in oil. The nourishing and moisturizing effect is an added bonus.

Sunflower oil benefits and harms For massage

In its pure form, sunflower oil is very rarely used as a massage base, as it tends to form a film on the surface of the skin. More often it is mixed in different proportions with other base and essential oils when creating complex mixtures.

However, in the absence of alternatives, you can take this oil. The main thing is that it will provide sliding of the hands, preventing damage to the skin. For massage of the back, feet, arms, shoulder and elbow joints, a mixture of 50 ml of sunflower, 4 tbsp. coconut, and 5-10 drops of lavender essential oil.

Some ways to use oil in everyday life

1. A mixture of equal parts alcohol and sunflower oil helps to remove stains from lacquered furniture, giving a second life to solid chests of drawers, tables, chairs and other interior items.
2. Sunflower oil can be used to remove fresh paint stains on clothes. Here it serves as a solvent - you need to apply the oil for 5-10 minutes, and then wash it with dishwashing detergent.
3. Rubbing with sunflower oil can help remove bad odors in the refrigerator or remove onion flavor from a cutting board or knife.
4. Dachas and private houses are sometimes attacked by ants who want something to eat. Oil helps to scare them away - they need to coat the edges of containers with cereals or packages with products of interest to insects. This is useful to know when preparing for a picnic.
5. By mixing 30 g of oil with 90 g of melted rosin and 1 tsp. syrup or honey, you can get a mixture for homemade duct tape against insects. It is necessary to anoint thick paper with it, and Velcro for the same ants is ready.
6. Sunflower oil can temporarily lubricate the hinges of doors and furniture. But you need to lubricate them with a more suitable agent as soon as possible. Oil, by the way, helps from jamming locks on clothes and bags.
7. Oil can restore the shine of kitchen utensils and cutlery.
8. For situations with a power outage in the country or just to create a special atmosphere, oil lamps are used. And yes, in a critical situation, you can replace the special oil mixture with ordinary sunflower oil.

How to choose the best sunflower oil

About how to choose an oil based on the purpose of its use, it was said above. Summarizing, we can say that unrefined is for cold use, and refined is for not too hot frying and dishes in which the aroma and taste of oil should not be felt.

Sunflower oil benefits and harms

And how to choose high-quality oil from sunflower seeds of one type or another on the store shelf. You need to be guided by the following signs:

1. The liquid should be clear, but not necessarily colorless. A dark yellow color is acceptable, especially for an unrefined product. It may also have a weak sediment. But refined oil with sediment is a fake or a spoiled product.
2. The unrefined liquid has a clear sunflower aroma and taste. In refined oil, they are either less pronounced or completely absent (in deodorized oil). Any type of product should not taste bitter.
3. The label of a good product contains information about the name, nature of cleaning, composition, available additives, GOST, place and date of production, as well as the expiration date of the product. In the Russian Federation, since July 1, 2014, the national standard GOST 1129-2013 “Sunflower oil. Specifications".
4. Naturally, the “younger” the oil by the date of production, the more willingly it should be taken.
5. Sunflower oil stored in the light oxidizes, so it is better to take bottles from the depths of the shelves, where the lighting is poor.
6. "Sunflower oil" is a pure product made from sunflower seeds. A trade item called "vegetable oil" may include admixtures of other oils.
7. Manufacturers that emphasize the presence of vitamin E often add it as a vitamin supplement. Although, there is nothing frankly bad in this, of course.

In 2014, the publication Roskontrol conducted an examination of 22 copies of refined sunflower oil sold in retail chains in the Russian Federation. The most consistent with the declared characteristics was shown by the popular Oleina brand and oil from the economy segment Every Day. With weaker performance, but compliance with the standards, the tests were also carried out by the brands "Anninskoe", "Zlato", IDEAL. The highest content of unsaturated fatty acids was noted in Every Day oil - 64.2%, and IDEAL and Anninskoye became the leaders in terms of the amount of vitamin E - 45.65 mg and 45.52 mg per 100 g.

Storage

Contrary to the opinion of many consumers, sunflower oil does not have a very long shelf life. This is especially true for an unrefined product, which already oxidizes under the influence of light, and after opening the package, the spoilage process is accelerated several times. Therefore, with rare use, it is better to buy small amounts of oil that will not have time to deteriorate while standing on the kitchen shelf.

Before the plastic bottle with oil is opened, it should be stored in a dark and cool place (from +5˚C to +20˚C). The expiration date, which is indicated on the bottle, is relevant only under these conditions and until it is opened.

After depressurization, unrefined oil packed in plastic containers can be stored for no longer than 2 months. After pouring into a glass bottle (preferably tinted glass) and placing in a dark place, this period may increase to 3-4 months, but it is still better to consume the product within 60 days. In the people, to extend the shelf life, a spoonful of salt or a few dry beans are placed at the bottom of a glass jar.

For long term storage, freezing may be considered. In fact, the liquid does not freeze, but retains its beneficial properties much longer. After one freeze-thaw cycle, the nutritional and medicinal value of the product does not change.

How to clean oil at home

Sunflower oil can be obtained not only industrially, but also at home. To do this, the grain is moved, crushed, separated from the husk with water. After that, you can squeeze out the oil. In everyday life, for this, you can use a special nozzle to separate the juice from the cake. Some home-grown butter makers equip grape juice presses for this purpose. One way or another, after obtaining coarse oil, it becomes necessary to clean it.

First you need to drive the resulting liquid through a funnel-shaped filter made of paper or non-woven fabric. As an alternative, a cloth that allows oil to pass through is suitable, because at this stage the main thing is the mechanical cleaning of oil from cake, pieces of husk, etc. You can take repeatedly folded gauze. Paper oil filters are rare, but are found in specialized stores. The product should be filtered immediately after squeezing, as the oxidation of the components begins immediately after squeezing.

Instead of straining, you can try to defend the oil. To do this, it is poured into an opaque container made of mild steel, glass or plastic, covered with a lid and left alone for about a day. This is enough to move light inclusions to the surface, and heavy inclusions to the bottom. For better purification, the liquid can be filtered after this stage, after which unrefined home-made sunflower oil will be obtained.

At home, the possibilities of oil purification end there. Yes, alkaline neutralization and hot steam deodorization are possible at home, but this, firstly, costs time and money, and secondly, requires a good understanding of the process from a chemical point of view. In general, homemade unrefined oil is more than suitable and healthy for eating. It is not inferior to the purchased one in its characteristics and is kept in excellent condition provided suitable storage conditions are provided.