Sunflower oil is primarily composed of linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fat, and oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat. Through selective breeding and manufacturing processes, oils of differing proportions of the fatty acids are produced. The expressed oil has a neutral taste profile. The oil contains a large amount of vitamin E.
What are oilseed sunflower seeds?
Those lovely seeds form from the disk flowers, and are known as achenes. Oilseed sunflower seeds are black, and as mentioned, have a higher oil content than the striped ones we enjoy as a snack. They are grown commercially for sunflower oil production and for bird feed.
Are there different types of sunflower oil seeds?
Several varieties of sunflower oil seeds have been developed by standard plant breeding methods, mainly to vary the amounts of oleic acid and linoleic acid which, respectively, are the predominant monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats in sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is a rich source of vitamin E (tables).
What are the health benefits of sunflower oil?
One tablespoon of sunflower oil contains: Sunflower oil is also a good source of these vitamins: 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.