Soybean oil is among the most widely used vegetable oils across the globe. This oil is obtained from the soybean seeds. Soybean oil is also among the most popular cooking oils throughout the world as people in many parts of the globe cultivate soybeans. In recent times, the use of this vegetable oil has increased manifold owing to the health benefits offered by it. Use of this oil helps to reinforce the immune system, in addition to helping you to maintain a healthy heart.
Soybean in indigenous to Asia and people in this continent have been using it for more than 5,000 years. Though this plant has a limited origin, it is highly valued for its delectable legume, which is one of the sources of soybean oil. In the United States, this plant was cultivated for the first time in the 1800s and its legume was widely used by people during the Civil War.
Soybean oil is cholesterol-free and has a high concentration of polyunsaturated fats. Since soybean oil is inexpensive, it is widely used in various food products like margarine. In fact, most varieties of soybean oil are hydrogenated, refined and blended. Depending on the application of the oil, soybean oil can be rated at diverse strengths and levels. Every day, several new soybean food products are being introduced into the market. Such products include soy milk, soy granules, soy sauce, tofu and many more.
In present times, several health practitioners across the world recommend the use of soybean oil, which contains high concentration of omega fatty acids. Moreover, soybean oil is said to be healthier compared to many other vegetable oils as it contains loads of essential fatty acids, which are hugely beneficial for our health.
Using soybean oil in cooking can significantly help to reduce the risks of developing various heart conditions, including heart attacks and strokes, as well as atherosclerosis. Soybean oil contains an excellent balance of omega-3 fatty acids and omega-6 fatty acids. Therefore, intake of this oil provides the body with sufficient amounts of fatty acids, which are necessary as well as beneficial for our body. At the same time, this oil also helps to regulate the levels of cholesterol in the body. It is worth mentioning here that omega-3 fatty acids possess the ability to lower the levels of low density lipo-protein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol, while improving the levels of high density lipo-protein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol. In addition, fatty acids such as palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid are also present in balanced levels in soybean oil. Moreover, the composition of fatty acids in soybean oil and also the potent plant sterols like β-sitosterol can really help in significantly reducing the storage of cholesterol in the gut by anything between 10 percent and 15 percent. This is something exceptional and usually not expected from any "fatty" acid.
In fact, the possibility of raising the concentration of "bad" unsaturated fats in cooking your food in the body if you use refined oil for cooking. This, in turn, may result in the build-up of low density lipo-protein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol in the blood. When LDL cholesterol is high in the blood stream it actually clogs the blood vessels, which not only hinders blood circulation, but also puts additional pressure on the heart. This often results in hypertension and several heart diseases.
Therefore, it is advisable that you opt for healthy alternatives and preferably use soybean oil for cooking because this vegetable oil is loaded with the essential omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids. This oil also helps to reduce LDL cholesterol accumulation in the blood vessels, thereby reduces the chances of developing hypertension. One study found that soybean oil also helps to lower the chances of ischemic attacks and atherosclerosis by 25 percent.
Soybean oil contains elevated amounts of vitamin K. Vitamin K has the potential to promote regrowth as well as healing of your bones. While the health of your bones largely depends on the amount of calcium intake, even vitamin K, which is found in high amounts in soybeans, possess the ability to promote bone development. Hence, it is advisable that you change to soybean oil if you are keen to avoid bone-related conditions such as osteoporosis - often this condition occurs naturally as a person ages.
Woman's body produces a hormone known as estrogen, which protects them from various major disorders. Among the various vital roles it plays, estrogen stimulates bone metabolism. Any deficiency of this hormone may not only result in increased cases of osteopenia and even bone loss.
Soybean oil is also loaded with phytosterols known as isoflavones (which is a polyphenol derived from plants and acts in the same manner as estrogen). Isolfavones scavenge the harmful free radicals by binding to the estrogen receptors found on the bones. In this way, they set off a bone reforming process and also protect us from various bone-related conditions such as osteopenia and osteoporosis.
Omega-3 fatty acids comprise about 7% of soybean oil's total fatty acid content and they work to shield the cell membranes. They also protect the extremely dangerous and fragile areas of our skin as well as eyes, which are the common places through which bacteria and other alien microbes enter our body. Omega-3 fatty acids serve as antioxidants and promote our eyesight. They work to combat the harmful free radicals, which may be responsible for conditions like cataracts as well as macular degeneration.
Soybean oil is also loaded with vitamin E, which works as a potent antioxidant. At the same time, vitamin E protects your skin from various damages caused by free radicals. In fact, vitamin E has a direct association with enhancing the appearance of your skin by reducing the occurrence of acne and scars due to the condition, blemishes and age-related issues like fine lines and wrinkles on your face. At the same time, vitamin E safeguards your skin from sunburn and also promotes growth of new skin cells. It also heals the damaged skin. In fact, vitamin E also works as potent antioxidant in different parts of your body, thereby reinforcing your immune system. Moreover, it neutralizes and eliminates the harmful free radicals that are responsible for a number of conditions, including premature aging, heart diseases, cognitive disorders and even various forms of cancer.
Menaces like hair fall and balding have been on the rise and they are a matter of concern for women as well as men belonging to all age groups. Several factors such as anxiety, stress, malnutrition, genes, pollution and hormonal imbalance may not only cause hair fall but also lead to balding. These conditions may also lead to stunted hair growth and reduced strength of hair strand. However, when you use soybean or products made from soybean it can help to enhance the presence of keratin-like molecules and amino acids in the hair fibers, thereby making them stronger right from the roots.
This is the main reason why several shampoos contain soybean oil or derivatives of soybean. Besides, strengthening the hair strands and stimulating new hair growth, shampoos containing soybean oil or soybean derivative enhance the shine of your hair.
Soybean oil also contains elevated concentration of isoflavones, linoleic acid, vitamins and potent antioxidants that protect, hydrate and nourish your skin. Topical application of soybean oil or lotions and gels enclosing soybean oil or soybean derivatives can aid in shielding your skin form both UV rays as well as free radicals. It also helps to safeguard your skin from inflammation caused by free radicals and diminish the transepidermal water loss (also known as TWL) from the skin, thereby creating a barrier on the skin. In addition, they also help the skin to recover from damages and diseases.
The unrefined black soybean oil is comparatively richer in antioxidant content. It contains potent antioxidants such as isoflavones and anthocyanins that not only thwart the anti-aging signs from appearing on the skin, especially in women who are in post-menopausal stage. The phytoestrogens and isoflavones present in soybean oil work like the hormone estrogen found in the human body.
Using vegetable oils like soybean oil helps to put off collagen and elastin loss from the skin. At the same time, it softens the skin, moisturizes it and keeps it wrinkle free. It also helps to avoid fine lines on the skin of the face as well as pigmentation.
Unlike several other vegetable oils, intake of soybean oil helps to gain weight in the proper manner. While 80 percent of the population in the world is keen to lose excess body weight, there are numerous people who are undernourished and they are advised to use soybean oil for cooking purpose.
The levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids found in soybean oil are much higher compared to saturated fats. Soybean oil also contains a number of beneficial phytochemicals as well as vegetable starch which makes it an ideal substitute for refined oil or butter. The presence of these nutritious substances in soybean oil makes it a healthier option.
Presence of high concentration of saturated fats is responsible for amyloid plaque (such as deposit of low density lipo-protein or LDL cholesterol) on your brain cells, resulting in inflammation and loss of memory.
In addition, the elevated levels of beneficial unsaturated fatty acids such as linoleic acid and linolenic acid as well as vitamin K in soybean oil helps to make up for omega-6 fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids such as DHA and EPA.
All these unsaturated fatty acids in soybean oil possess powerful neuroprotective properties and one should take them through their diet. Moreover, incorporating soybeans to foods, cooking in soybean oil or intake of soybean oil-based supplements can help in boosting your memory as well as improve learning. At the same time, these may also help to cure severe neurodegenerative, cognitive and cerebrovascular conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.