Rapeseed oil: health benefits and harms

Rapeseed oil is one of the varieties of vegetable fats produced on an industrial scale. It is obtained from the seed of a plant called rape. For a long time, rapeseed oil was believed to have harmful properties, so it found its application only in the technical field. It was used as a lubricant or fuel for fixtures.

Today, the scope of technical application of the presented oil has expanded significantly, soap is made from it, used both in the textile and leather industries, it serves as the basis for the manufacture of drying oils and thinners for oil paints. In addition, rapeseed oil is used in metallurgy, as well as in the chemical industry.

The gastronomic properties and valuable chemical composition became the reason for the use of this product in cooking, while its production increases annually. Rapeseed oil is most widely used in food markets in America as well as in Europe. In Canada, the production of this Pancake week exceeds all alternatives.

What rapeseed oil is made of

Rapeseed oil is pressed from the seeds of a cruciferous crop called rapeseed. It is an annual herbaceous plant related to cabbage. The first mention of this culture dates back more than 4 millennium BC on the Mediterranean coast. The plant blooms in large flowers with a large amount of nectar, which allows you to organize the seasonal collection of rapeseed honey. The technology for producing rapeseed oil involves pressing the seeds or their extraction.

Kinds

The level of quality and the methods used in the processing determine the type of rapeseed oil, of which there are only two. This is refined or non-deodorized (or unrefined) oil. In the production of these products, the mass fraction of erucic acid, which should not exceed 5%, is subject to mandatory control. In this case, rapeseed oil is considered a completely safe food product that is not able to harm human health.

Composition and calorie content

Rapeseed oil is characterized by a balanced content of fatty acids and, unlike others, is characterized by their smallest amount in the composition. Fatty acids comprise the following percentage:

• unsaturated - 66%;
• saturated - 6%;
• polyunsaturated - 27%.

In addition, vitamin E and a group of carotenoids are included in rapeseed oil. The content of dangerous erucic acid is successfully reduced with the help of modern technologies to 1% of the total composition for obtaining the name - zero rapeseed or to 0.1% for the receipt of the name - double zero rapeseed. The percentage of other fatty acids is represented by the following list:

• myristic - 0.2;
• palmitic - 2.5;
• palmitoleic - 0.6;
• stearic - 3;
• oleic - 51;
• linoleic - 15;
• linolenic - 5;
• peanut - 0.2;
• gondione - 0.1;
• eicosadiene - 0.1;
• behenic - 0.6;
• docosadiene - 0.1;
• lignoceric - 0.3;
• selacholeic - 0.4,

The energy value of the product is measured in 899 kilocalories contained in every 100 g of weight. The composition is formed from 0.1% water and 99.9% fat. In addition, 100 g of this oil contains 18.9 mg of vitamin E and 2 mg of phosphorus.

Useful properties of rapeseed oil

General benefit

The diverse composition of fatty acids and a wide range of beneficial properties led to the fact that rapeseed oil was nicknamed the northern olive and became widespread. It is a rich source of fats for the body, which serve not only as a structural material for the formation of cells, but also as an energy component.

In addition, fats contribute to the creation of a protective barrier that protects both from mechanical damage and from hypothermia of various organs, and also prevents dehydration of tissues. In addition, fats are necessary to ensure the normal functioning of the immune and cardiovascular systems, take part in the reproductive function.

Oleic acid contained in rapeseed oil belongs to the monounsaturated group and takes an active part in cholesterol metabolism. Linoleic and linolenic acid are not produced by the human body, but they are necessary as a material that forms cell membranes and improves vascular plasticity.

Useful properties of rapeseed oil can be represented as the following list:

• takes part in cholesterol metabolism, which reduces the risk of atherosclerosis;
• increases the elasticity of blood vessels, reducing the likelihood of blood clots;
• stimulates the activity of the immune system at the cellular level;
• prevents the development of osteoporosis;
• increases brain activity;
• improves the sensitivity of the optic nerve;
• differs in bactericidal action;
• reduces the activity of inflammatory processes;
• increases the speed of regeneration processes;
• stimulates the synthesis of hormones that can suppress appetite;
• increases metabolic rate;
• activates metabolism, preventing fatty deposits in the liver;
• takes part in protein synthesis;
• tones up muscle tissue and improves skin elasticity;
• fights against oxidation processes, slowing down the aging of tissues;
• prevents the formation of tumors.

Oleic acid, which is part of rapeseed oil, is resistant to heat, which eliminates the appearance of harmful carcinogens. This allows you to use the product when frying various dishes.

For women

Experts have found that rapeseed oil contains an element identical to the female hormone, which actively counteracts cancer cells. The sex hormone estradiol is produced in the female body at the beginning of the menstrual cycle when the egg leaves the ovary and is responsible for the normal state of reproductive function. During this period, women's skin is particularly elastic, and shine is observed in the eyes. Research in San Francisco in the second half of 2008 found that women using rapeseed oil were less likely to suffer from a disease like breast cancer.

For men

It turns out that rapeseed oil is a rather controversial product for the male body. Many useful qualities, such as the ability to strengthen blood vessels, lower cholesterol, increase brain activity and prevent blood clots, contribute to the overall strengthening of the body. However, the high content of female hormone in the oil can cause negative consequences.

This circumstance is able to shake the hormonal balance, which will certainly weaken men's health. The result of this action will be a weakening of potency and a decrease in the qualitative composition of seminal fluid. For this reason, men are advised to refrain from the systematic consumption of this product, because the risk of weakening sexual function is a very serious argument.

During pregnancy

Pregnant women are advised to pay particular attention to the beneficial properties of rapeseed oil. Fatty acids are of great value, participating in the processes of formation of the structure of the brain in a developing fetus. In addition, the composition of the presented oil reduces the likelihood of premature birth. Plus, future mothers need vitamins A and E, which provide a stable hormonal balance and are contained in rapeseed oil. This product is on the recommended lists during pregnancy.

When breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, nursing mothers are advised to consume 1 tbsp. rapeseed oil per day. The product contributes to the enrichment of breast milk with useful elements that provide the baby's body with easily absorbed energy. In addition, the chemical composition of rapeseed oil provides the necessary substances for the formation of a rapidly growing brain.

For kids

Rapeseed is a culture that was bred artificially by crossing cabbage with rape. Therefore, it is considered a genetically modified product, the use of which is not recommended by many experts. This causes a negative attitude to rapeseed oil, especially in children's diets. But the whole secret is that the harmfulness of this product consists in the high content of erucic acid, which is poorly excreted from the body and can accumulate there.

However, thanks to the development of genetic engineers, it was possible to develop new varieties in which the content of the harmful component is reduced by an order of magnitude. The new quality allowed the use of rapeseed oil in the food industry, eliminating the danger of use even in children's diets.

When losing weight

One of the useful qualities of canola oil is the normalization of metabolism in the body. In addition, this product lowers cholesterol and promotes the removal of toxins from the body, which is very useful in the process of losing weight. Among other things, rapeseed oil is highly digestible, which makes its presence desirable in many diets. The ability to neutralize toxins makes the product an indispensable tool in food poisoning.

The benefits and harms of rapeseed oil in baby food

The feasibility of using canola oil in baby food is a hotly debated topic in the scientific community. However, acquiring mixtures in the departments of baby food, in the composition presented on the packaging, one can often find the presence of this product. Experts have not yet arrived at an unambiguous conclusion on this issue, so it is worth considering in detail the characteristics of rapeseed oil.

Beneficial features

Rapeseed oil has a high alpha linoleic acid content. Compared with other vegetable fats, this element has useful qualities for both adults and children. As a percentage, its content is measured at 11%, which is 3% higher than soybean oil. Meanwhile, this acid increases the metabolic rate, stimulates the regeneration of the skin and increases its elasticity. In addition, alpha-linoleic acid has a strengthening effect on the children's immune system, lowers cholesterol and inhibits the development of inflammatory processes.

In addition, rapeseed oil contains some fatty acids that can be found exclusively in breast milk, which makes this product unique to baby food. Also useful qualities include the content of vitamins A, D and E, which are necessary for the developing organism.

Vitamin A promotes bone growth and improves vision, D serves as a prophylactic against a disease such as rickets, contributing to the proper formation of bone structure and the proportional development of the skeleton. Vitamin E is necessary for the healthy formation of the composition of nails and hair, and also develops a contractile reflex in the muscles. In addition, rapeseed oil is perfectly absorbed, which compares favorably with other vegetable fats.

Harmful qualities

The harm of rapeseed oil is due to the content of erucic acid, which has been proven in the past. For this reason, until a certain time, rapeseed oil was not allowed in the composition of baby food. The specified acid is very slowly digested, which contributes to its accumulation in the body. This element has a negative effect on the children's genitourinary system, which may affect the subsequent development of sexual function.

In addition, erucic acid slows down the growth process, which can inhibit the stages of development of the child's body, has a negative effect on the heart muscle, filling the tissues with fatty layers instead of binding fibers. Over time, the effect of erucic acid on the human body has been studied in detail. As a result of the research, experts from all over the world agreed that a content not exceeding 3.1% of the total acid composition can be considered harmless to the body.

In addition, rapeseed oil, before entering the composition of the product group, undergoes a chemical treatment procedure to remove harmful components. These can be refining or degumming processes that are carried out using hexane at high temperatures.

The use of hexane, the vapor of which has a narcotic effect, in the purification technology does not contribute to the popularization of this oil as part of baby food. However, if the selected mixture for the baby contains rapeseed oil, you can check on the manufacturer’s website how to clean it. Cold pressing is not associated with the use of dubious chemical components.

It is worth remembering that rapeseed oil can provoke allergic reactions, especially in children prone to such disorders. In this case, parents need to monitor the reaction of the child's body, and if the undesirable effect is manifested, exclude the pathogen from the diet. In addition, nutrition with rapeseed oil is not recommended for children under the age of one year, especially if they suffer from intestinal upset or chronic diarrhea. Individual intolerance to this product is also possible.

Medical use

The beneficial qualities of rapeseed oil have also found their application in medicine, where it is used as an additional component in various preparations. The product is widely used in traditional medicine recipes, healing a number of ailments and contributing to the overall strengthening of the body:

1. To increase immunity, it is recommended to take 3-4 tsp in the morning on an empty stomach oils.
2. To neutralize joint pain, a special compress is used - the flannel is impregnated with heated oil and applied for 2 hours to the affected area, wrapped with plastic wrap.
3. To relieve inflammation, with burns and abrasions, the damaged areas are lubricated with rapeseed oil, repeating the procedure several times a day.

Rapeseed oil is also used in a composition that can replenish strength in the body. To do this, prepare a special composition with which they take a bath. This procedure is very useful after strong physical exertion. The therapeutic composition includes 50 g of sea salt, 2 tbsp. rapeseed oil, 1 cup milk, 2 tsp. starch and 6-7 drops of lavender oil. The resulting mixture is dissolved in a bath of warm water, the reception time of which is 20 minutes.

Cooking use

Among other things, rapeseed oil is widely used in cooking, where it is used not only to prepare various dishes, but also to be included in various seasonings, and also used as the basis for the manufacture of spreads and margarines. There are many recipes that use this oil for hot dishes, such as soups, meat and fish products, it is also suitable for baking and sweet desserts.

Rapeseed oil is used in the manufacture of many sauces or marinades, as a dressing for salads. In addition, this oil is used to make mayonnaise and a number of varieties of margarine. To get an idea of ​​the culinary possibilities of the product, it is recommended to consider several recipes that are popular in different countries of the world.

Salad "Good friend"

To make a salad according to this recipe, the following main components are required:

• lettuce - 2 bunches;
• papaya or mango - 1 pc.;
• pecans - 0.5 cups;
• cheese called "Piraeus Bulgarite" - 250 g.

Sauce Ingredients:

• rapeseed oil - 3 tbsp;
• wine vinegar - 1 tbsp;
• lemon juice - 1 tbsp;
• orange juice - 1 tbsp;
• honey - 1 tsp;
• mustard - 1 tsp;
• salt and black pepper to taste.

Peel the papaya or mango fruit, and then cut into large cubes about 2 centimeters in size. Coarse grated cheese. Wash lettuce leaves with your hands in large pieces. Next, combine the chopped components in a common bowl with nuts and mix. After that, mix all the ingredients prepared for the sauce, beat well and season the salad.

Granola

To prepare a dish according to this recipe, the following components should be prepared:

• peanut butter - 4 tbsp .;
• rapeseed oil - 2 tbsp .;
• maple syrup - 4 tbsp;
• oatmeal - 1 cup.

Mix all prepared ingredients, except oatmeal, in a common saucepan and simmer until peanut butter flows. After that, add oatmeal and mix thoroughly. Put the finished composition in the oven, preheated to a temperature of 150 degrees, and bake for half an hour.

Chinese cabbage pancakes

Ingredients:

• Beijing cabbage - 0.5 kg;
• dry red pepper in pods - 50 g;
• allspice - 15 peas;
• sesame oil - 10 g;
• rapeseed oil - 10 g;
• salt - 0.25 tsp;
• soy sauce - 5 g;
• vinegar - 2 g;
• sugar - 5 g;
• monosodium glutamate.

Washed cabbage leaves are separated from the head of cabbage. Rapeseed oil is heated in a pan and allspice is added along with red, which must be slightly fried. Next, spread cabbage leaves, salt, pour over soy sauce and stew until soft. After that, the leaves are poured with vinegar and laid out on a dish to cool. Fried pepper is cut into small strips, spread in equal portions on cabbage leaves and fold them into tubes. Finished tubes are cut into components, 4 cm long, and spread on a dish. In the end, allspice is removed from the pan, and sesame oil and monosodium glutamate are added, mixed thoroughly. Finished pour over the laid out pancakes.

Is it possible to fry in rapeseed oil

Rapeseed oil has a high content of both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. With a low concentration of saturated fats and a high smoke point, this oil becomes an attractive cooking medium. However, it should be borne in mind that oil, which is subjected to heat treatment during the cleaning process, loses most of its useful properties and loses its attractiveness. For frying, it is recommended to use only species obtained by cold pressing.

Rapeseed oil in cosmetology

Rapeseed oil is an excellent face and hair care product, and it is especially useful to use masks with this component in winter. At this time, the face is exposed to cold wind and frost, which greatly increases skin irritability. In addition, limited exposure to the sun and the use of artificial heating have a negative effect on the skin of the face. Masks containing rapeseed oil perfectly nourish the dermis and serve as a protective agent against external irritants.

For face

For face care, you need to choose a mask that is most suitable for a particular type of skin. You should also consider the problem that you need to get rid of, because the composition of each mask is created to solve a specific problem.

Anti wrinkle
To prepare this composition, you need to prepare;

• rapeseed oil - 1 tbsp;
• Santal oil - 1 drop;
• rose oil - 1 drop;
• peppermint oil - 1 drop.

The preventive composition is prepared very simply. For this, all prepared components are thoroughly mixed and rubbed into the skin with massaging movements. The composition is left until completely absorbed. To obtain the desired effect, the procedure is recommended twice a day, in the morning and in the evening.

Against blackheads
To prepare the composition for this recipe, you should prepare:

• rapeseed oil - 1 tbsp;
• lavender oil - 2 drops;
• clove oil - 2 drops.

This composition can also be easily prepared by mixing the ingredients. It is applied every morning to well-cleansed skin, kept for 20 minutes until completely absorbed.

With dry skin
To prepare the feeding mask, you must prepare:

• rapeseed oil - 1 tbsp;
• lemon balm oil - 2 drops;
• rose oil - 2 drops;
• limmet oil - 2 drops.

The prepared components are thoroughly mixed until smooth and applied to the face until completely absorbed. For dry skin, a nourishing mask prepared according to this recipe is recommended to be applied three times a day.

For hair

For hair care, it is recommended to use a special shampoo made using rapeseed oil. It is necessary to prepare:

• rapeseed oil - 10 ml;
• shampoo - 100 ml.

To prepare a prophylactic composition, add rapeseed oil to the shampoo and mix gently. The resulting product is soaped the head and kept for 2-3 minutes, and then washed off. This composition is an excellent tool that eliminates both brittle hair and dissection of the ends. It is able to give curls a natural shine.

Harm and contraindications

The greatest danger to the body in rapeseed oil is erucic acid. The thing is that in the human body the necessary enzymes that can break down this element are not produced. As a result, this acid is poorly excreted and can accumulate in various tissues, creating obstacles to the normal functioning of internal organs.

The action of erucic acid is especially dangerous for children, because it can inhibit their development. The element that has accumulated in the children's body stops growth, slows down the formation of the skeleton and muscle tissue, and prevents sexual development. For adults, an excess of erucic acid can result in the formation of fat deposits around the heart muscle, which leads to malfunctions of the heart. Fat deposits in the tissues of the liver and kidneys, which can cause a number of diseases, are no less dangerous.

Nevertheless, there are few serious concerns about this. Indeed, in the food industry they use rape varieties that have passed selective selection. As a result of this action, the content of harmful acid in the composition of rapeseed is reduced to an acceptable level.

How to choose and store

First of all, rapeseed oil should be selected in appearance. A quality product must be transparent. Depending on the cleaning method, the oil will have either a light yellow or a dark yellow color. It is important to monitor the presence of sediment, the presence of which is unacceptable. If the oil is cold pressed, it may be slightly cloudy.

At home, this oil is recommended to be stored in dry rooms with a cool temperature. The relative humidity of the storage should not exceed 85%. Also, for full-fledged long-term storage, it is necessary to limit the oil from contact with direct sunlight. With open packaging, the shelf life of canola oil can be from 6 to 12 months, while in sealed form it is able to retain its properties for up to 5 years.

Interesting facts about rapeseed

1. Rapeseed is a rich source of relatively cheap vegetable oil.Also high-protein feed is prepared from it, which is very useful for pets.
2. The value of rapeseed lies not only in its beneficial properties. The culture is able to improve the sanitary condition of the fields, because it leaves the field early, improves the general structure of the soil, increases the phytosanitary composition, prevents the development of weeds, reducing the weediness of the fields. These circumstances contribute to the subsequent increase in crop yields.
3. In the wild, rape is not found in nature. This culture was bred artificially as a result of crossing garden cabbage and winter, or spring, rape.

Photo of rapeseed oil