Today, sunflower oil is a food, a medicine, and a skin treatment. It is available in several forms, each with a different formula and with its own health benefits. Sunflower oil is a popular vegetable oil in the kitchen because of its mild flavor and high smoke point.
Nutrition Information
One tablespoon of sunflower oil contains:
- Calories: 120
- Protein: 0 grams
- Fat: 14 grams
- Carbohydrates: 0 grams
- Fiber: 0 grams
- Sugar: 0 grams
Sunflower oil is also a good source of these vitamins:
Potential Health Benefits of Sunflower Oil
Sunflower oil has many health benefits because it is low in saturated fat and high in two types of fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids, or PUFAs, include omega-3s and omega-6s. PUFAs can reduce cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, especially when substituted for less-healthy fats.
Monounsaturated fatty acids, or MUFAs, also appear in sunflower oil. MUFAs may reduce heart disease. MUFAs in olive oil help make the Mediterranean diet healthy.
There are a few different types of sunflower oil you can choose from. It can be high in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid, or it can be high in linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, or it can be somewhere in between. A high oleic sunflower oil is more frequently sold, since it is more stable for cooking.
Heart Health
Monounsaturated fats, such as those found in high oleic sunflower oil, are good for heart health. In one study, MUFAs increased HDL, the “good” cholesterol. Study subjects also had lower levels of inflammation. The Food and Drug Administration supports the health claim that oils containing at least 70% oleic acid may reduce coronary heart disease.