The benefits and harms of rapeseed oil for the body: composition.

Every year rapeseed is becoming more and more popular in our area, and we simply cannot help but talk about the benefits and harms of rapeseed oil… Its rich useful components make industrialists fight for the sown area for growing this particular product, from which rapeseed oil is used in food today much more often than several decades ago.

But is rapeseed oil as useful as, say, our familiar olive, sunflower or corn oil? What is more harmful and what is more beneficial for our health? We can judge about this after we learn in more detail about the composition and effect of rapeseed oil on our body.

The benefits of rapeseed oil

• Rapeseed oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids… That is why experts recommend taking it for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal tract and reduce the risk of blood clots.
• Perfectly nourishes, moisturizes, softens and regenerates the skin… These properties allowed rapeseed oil to become widespread in cosmetology and dermatology. Sterile rapeseed oil is used for injection.
• Regular consumption of rapeseed oil improves metabolism, removes harmful cholesterol from the blood and accelerates cell regeneration… Therefore, this oil is a product suitable for inclusion in their diet for those who wish to lose those extra pounds. Refined rapeseed oil contains more fatty acids, which makes it much healthier than premium olive oil sold in stores at very high prices. It is rapeseed oil that has become more often used in diets, since its digestibility is much easier, and the quality is an order of magnitude higher than other vegetable oils.
• Another benefit of rapeseed oil is that contains essential amino acidsthat are not produced by the body on its own – linolenic and linoleic acid. Thanks to their presence, the correct functioning of the heart is ensured, the narrowing of the blood vessels is neutralized and blood circulation is improved, which reduces the risk of strokes or myocardial infarction.
• Also in rapeseed oil there are excellent natural antioxidants in the form of vitamins A и E, which have a powerful effect in order to protect the body and its cells from the effects of oxygen radicals.
• For women, the positive effect of regular use of rapeseed oil is that it prevents the development of breast cancer by the presence in its composition of a plant analogue of the female sex hormone called estradiol – the main hormone responsible for the health of a woman and the readiness of her body to conceive.

The harm of rapeseed oil

As you have already seen, rapeseed oil has a positive effect on human health. But you still need to learn that not in all cases rapeseed oil is a useful and harmless product, as it has a number of contraindications for use.

• Contains in large quantities (about 50%) erucic acid, which our body’s enzymes are unable to process… This leads to the fact that this acid accumulates in our tissues and increases the risk of genital problems, including late puberty in children.
• Thioglycosides in unrefined rapeseed oil provoke allergic reactions and headaches… While these micronutrients also have antimicrobial effects and improve appetite, they can be harmful if you are allergic to rapeseed.
• Negatively affects the thyroid gland… This negative effect on the body from rapeseed oil is caused by the organic compounds present in it, which contain sulfur. They contain toxic substances known as thioglycosides and glycosinolates, which can negatively affect the thyroid gland.

[vc_message color = ”alert-info”] There is good news for rapeseed oil lovers – today there are special rapeseed varieties in which the amount of erucic acid and thioglycosides is minimized, so such oils can be added to food without any fear. [/ vc_message]

Thanks to such great benefits of rapeseed oil, agronomists promise this product a bright future, in which rapeseed will be widely used for the production of vegetable oil in volumes exceeding the production of other edible oils. But today, most housewives are only looking at this product, since the harm of rapeseed oil is not yet fully understood.

Selection and storage tips

Rapeseed oil produced in Canada and Germany is the best, as they pay increased attention to quality control, conduct scientific research, create new technologies and specialized oilseed varieties.

When choosing an oil, pay attention to the erucic acid content. The more it tends to zero, the safer. It is better if the indicator is in the range of 0-0,5%. The color of a quality oil is light yellow. And the product should not have sediment.

The quality of rapeseed oil in Russia is regulated by GOST 31759-2012.

It is recommended to store it in a cool place out of reach of sunlight.

Nutritional value of rapeseed oil

Video about the benefits and dangers of rapeseed oil