Sunflower oil: the composition of the product and its beneficial properties

Almost every house in the kitchen has sunflower oil. It is used for frying meat, vegetables, pies, cooking salads. At the same time, no one even thinks about the fact that sunflower oil, the composition of which is rich in useful substances, can be used not only in the cooking process, but also in the treatment of various ailments, and the elimination of certain shortcomings in appearance.

A bit of history

Sunflower oil is a product that is obtained from sunflower seeds. This plant was brought from America to Europe. In our country it was due to Peter I. The king noticed this beautiful plant in Holland and ordered to bring the seeds. Sunflower has long been considered an ornamental flower. At the end of the 18th century, Academician V. M. Severgin wrote in his works that oil can be obtained from seeds. However, this information was not of wide interest.

Approximately until the 30s of the XIX century, sunflower was a garden plant. Then the peasant D. Bokarev decided to wring out the grains of oil. The experiment was a success. The resulting product proved to be tasty and served as an alternative to other vegetable oils. Gradually, sunflower became the most cultivated oilseed crop in the country.

Sunflower oil composition

The product in question includes useful substances:

• Vegetable fats, which are more easily absorbed by the human body than animals;
• Vitamin E, which is a defender against aging and cancer;
• Fatty acids, necessary for the body to build cells and tissues, for the functioning of the circulatory and nervous systems.

From the table below you can find out about what includes sunflower oil. The composition is indicated per 100 g of product.

Classification of sunflower oil

Vegetable oil, made from sunflower seeds, is divided into unrefined and refined. The initial product, after obtaining from the raw material, is defended, filtered and sent for hydration and neutralization. The composition of unrefined sunflower oil under these procedures is deprived of phospholipids - substances, due to which during prolonged storage, the oil becomes turbid.

The second product from the classification is obtained after passing the complete technological scheme of purification. The sunflower oil is decanted, filtered, centrifuged, and hydrated. The next process after all this is refining. Sunflower oil is clarified with special adsorbents. The product is then treated with water vapor under vacuum. Due to this, the oil loses its original smell, i.e., deodorizes. Treatment also removes substances that, when exposed to high temperatures, turn into carcinogens and enter the body.

Healing properties of the product

Sunflower oil is necessary for the human body, because it contains useful substances. In particular, it is rich in vitamin E. In other vegetable oils it is contained in much smaller quantities (if you compare the composition of olive oil and sunflower oil, you can see that the latter contains 10 times more of this vitamin). It is necessary for the normal functioning of the heart muscle, the sex glands. With its lack, neurological disorders occur, hemolysis of erythrocytes. To prevent such conditions it is recommended to use unrefined product with salads (the chemical composition of sunflower unrefined oil contains more useful substances, so it is advised to add it to various dishes and not use for frying).

Sunflower oil is useful for various ailments. Due to the presence of its own biological composition, it becomes an important ingredient in various ointments, masks, etc. Sunflower oil interacts well with plant components - medicines prepared according to folk recipes are used:

• For treatment of cold symptoms;
• To relieve pain in the joints;
• With other pathological conditions.

Sunflower oil and cold treatment

With sore throats, which testify to the development of angina, folk healers recommend to prepare grease and use it according to the following recipe:

• Mix aloe juice with the same amount of unrefined sunflower oil;
• In the resulting mixture, lower the cotton swab;
• Grease your throat.

When you cough in children, you can also use sunflower oil. The composition of the product helps to eliminate this symptom. Compresses are used to combat cough in folk medicine:

• In the container mix for 1 tbsp. A spoonful of dry mustard, unrefined sunflower oil , honey and vodka;
• All ingredients are mixed, flour is added to them until a thick dough forms;
• The mixture is heated on a water bath;
• From the dough make 3 tortillas, which are wrapped in cheesecloth;
• 2 cakes are put on the back, and the remaining - on the chest (it should be borne in mind that compresses do not make on the spine and on the place where the heart is located, on the chest have a small cake under the dimple).

Sunflower oil in the service of beauty

In some recipes of beauty sunflower oil is one of the ingredients. The composition of the product positively affects the skin, hair. For example, with severe dryness of the facial skin and peeling, you can help yourself in the following way:

• Mix 100 g of sunflower oil with the same amount of honey;
• Add to the mixture 2 chicken eggs without protein;
• Mix the ingredients thoroughly and reheat;
• Apply the product on the face in several receptions with a 7-minute interval;
• Wash off the mask from the face with a swab dipped in a lime decoction.

Sunflower oil is suitable not only for dry skin, but also for normal skin. For women with this type of skin, this product is useful in winter, when the face is affected by such negative factors as frost and wind. To eliminate their influence, it is sufficient to cleanse the skin every day with sunflower oil. It is first heated, and then applied to the face. After 3 minutes, the oil is removed with a swab dipped in water or a broth based on herbs.

The healing properties of sunflower oil include a positive effect on the hair. First of all, the product must be included in the food. What the person eats depends on the health and beauty of the hair. If there are any problems with the hair, then one meal will not be enough. For example, with hair loss, you can once a week to perform a simple procedure - rub in the scalp mixture prepared from 1 tbsp. Spoons of sunflower oil and egg yolk. The hair is rinsed 40 minutes after application with the use of warm water.

The use of oil in gynecological diseases

The composition of refined sunflower oil has a positive effect in gynecological diseases. The product promotes the healing of mucous membranes. To prepare a remedy for women's ailments:

• 1 part of sunflower refined oil is mixed with 1 part of bee honey;
• The mixture is boiled in a water bath, cooled and used to wet cotton swabs.

The medicine prepared at home, removes small inflammatory processes. With unpleasant manifestations of premenstrual syndrome, it is just necessary to eat salads filled with sunflower oil. The product contains linoleic acid. It just helps to relieve the tormenting symptoms.

Application of sunflower oil for pain in joints

To relieve painful sensations in the joint, you can use a mixture made from sunflower oil unrefined and powder of water spaghetti (the last component is on sale in pharmacies):

• In 30 parts of oil, add 1 part of the powder of the spaghetti;
• The ingredients are thoroughly mixed;
• The obtained ointment is applied to the affected joint from the outside and rubbed in circular motions;
• After the procedure, the limb is wrapped with a warm cloth.

Rinsing and lubricating the mouth

The chemical composition of sunflower oil makes it possible to use this product for the treatment and improvement of the oral cavity. Daily rinsing can stop the defeat of the peri-toothed tissue, prevent the formation of plaque on the teeth, prevent the development of the carious process. How to use sunflower oil? It is recommended for a quarter of an hour to keep in the mouth half of 1 tbsp. Spoons of this product. After this procedure, you need to spit out the oil and rinse your mouth thoroughly with warm water, adding a little salt.

If there are any problems with the mucous membrane in the oral cavity, then a mixture of 1 part of sunflower unrefined oil with 1 part of fir oil is used. It treats affected areas in the mouth with a cotton swab. After use, the mixture is placed in the refrigerator and stored there.

In conclusion, it should be noted that a very useful product is sunflower oil. The composition includes substances that are necessary for humans. From the oil it is recommended to prepare medicines according to folk prescriptions from various diseases, to make therapeutic cosmetics. However, self-medication is still not welcome. Before using any product, you need to consult a specialist, because in some diseases, oil may not have the expected effect or do harm at all.