Most people love to cook and want to make healthier and safe food. But have you ever thought about what is one of the main ingredients that make your food healthy? It is the cooking oil, an essential element of cooking. Nowadays, many people struggle to find a good quality of oil to make their food healthier. One that’s is commonly used and made from cottonseed is cottonseed oil.
Moreover, it is also necessary to buy cottonseed oil from a well-known cottonseed oil mill because it affects its quality. In this article, we will explore cottonseed oil uses, benefits, side-effects.
Is cottonseed oil healthy for you?
Cottonseed oil is made from cottonseed and is a commonly used vegetable oil. It is widely used for cooking and also for skin products. Before using the cottonseed, it is necessary to remove gossypol by refining it as this gives the yellow color to the oil, protects the cottonseed plant from pests, and is toxic. In a cotton seed, there is about 15 to 20 percent oil.
However, unrefined oil is toxic to the human body and can cause infertility and liver damage. Also, it is used as a pesticide. Moreover, it helps to increase good cholesterol HDL and reduce LDL the bad cholesterol. But due to the increase in fat, it may be unhealthy and can cause heart disease.
Use of cottonseed oil
There are multiple uses of cottonseed oil in homes and restaurants as it is used to process the food and extend shelf life. Some of the most commonly used products of cottonseed oil are:
- Potato chips
- Baked goods like cakes
- Crackers
- Snack bars
- Pasta sauce
- Cereals
- Salad dressings
- Mayonnaise
- Margarine
- Cookies
Moreover, it makes food moist, chewy, and provides a creamy consistency to the cream in baking like in icing, topping, and whipping. It is used in a most fast-food restaurants to fry fries, roast, and chicken pieces to enhance their flavor. It is also preferred more than olive oil because it is less expensive than vegetable oils.
Other than this, cottonseed oil is also used for other things other than food item likes in oil lamps, candle making, insecticides, cosmetics, and laundry detergents. However, they make people choose another vegetable oil than cottonseed oil, which makes it unhealthy.
Cottonseed oil for skin products
Nowadays, cottonseed oil is also used in skincare products as it contains a high amount of vitamin E, which is healthy for fair skin. Other than this, it also contains fatty acids and antioxidant such as:
- Moisturizing
- Anti-aging
- Anti-inflammatory properties
Further, a sit involves a high amount of fatty acid. It increases the skin’s permeability and allows the skin to balance the skin by absorbing other ingredients’ right amount. Additionally, it is used for sun-screens and antidandruff shampoos as it contains fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties.
Moreover, some people may be allergic to cottonseed oil, so it is better to consult a doctor before using cottonseed oil skincare products.
Benefits of using Cottonseed oil
There are multiple benefits of using cottonseed oil due to unsaturated fats, vitamin E, and other essential ingredients. It has several advantages, including:
1. Anticancer
It has some anticancer effects due to the presence of gossypol that enhances the impact of radiation on prostate cancer cells. Moreover, if it is also used to suppress cancer cells unaffected by multiple drugs, it also lowers down the tumor growth and spreading of breast cancer.
2. Lowers inflammation
Cottonseeds contain monosaturated fats at a high amount, which decreases the inflammation level. Most people who take Mediterranean diets found it most beneficial as it lowers their blood’s inflammatory chemicals. Also, it reduces heart and chronic disease if appropriately used.
Moreover, it has anti-inflammatory effects as it contains monosaturated fat up to 18 percent. But if it is hydrogenated, it may increase to 50 percent. Thus, it lower symptoms that lead to inflammation, arthritis, and heart disease. The hydrogenated cottonseed contains a high amount of unsaturated fat. The anti-inflammation properties in oils include:
- olive oil
- grapeseed oil
- canola oil
- avocado oil
- walnut oil
3. Decreases the risk of cardiovascular diseases
As it lowers your LDL and increases your HDL due to the presence of unsaturated fat, it may reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease and improve blood pressure. However, it may also have some side effects due to the high amount of saturated fats than other vegetable oils.
4. Wound healing
Cottonseed oil is antioxidant as it contains a high amount of vitamin E. it is beneficial for the skin and helps heal wounds quickly. It may also have some positive effects on psoriasis, skin ulcers, injuries, and other skin condition. Due to a potent source of vitamin E, it is beneficial for the skin.
5. Hair growth
Besides the skin, it also provides favorable conditions for hair growth due to the presence of vitamin E, which improves your hair’s health. It also makes your hair more moisturized, prevents them from protein loss, protects them from environmental damage and styling. They make your hair healthier and reduce hair loss, which could help you grow your hair healthier.
Cottonseed side-effects
Despite many benefits, there are some ingredients in the cottonseed oil, which make it unhealthy, like the presence of gossypol. Gossypol may have some negative effect when it is inappropriately used or intake in a high amount, such as:
- Infertility and reduced sperm count and motility
- Liver damage
- Anorexia
- Pregnancy problems, such as early embryo development
- Respiratory distress
Moreover, it also contains Omega-6 Oils, which may cause obesity. Also, Cottonseed Oil may increase your cholesterol due to the high amount of saturated fat. So, people who have a cholesterol problem should consult a doctor before taking it. Further, it contains 55% linoleic acid that will oxidize when exposed to high temperatures. Thou, oxidized oils are unhealthy for the human body.
