The benefits and harm of soybean oil. The composition of the oil

Soybean oil is a product with a long history. However, with domestic consumers, it enjoys a very controversial reputation. Some believe that soy is a product that carries only harm. Others believe that this plant may well replace most of the products we are used to. On whose side is the truth?

What is soy?

Cultivated soybean or Glycine max is an annual plant belonging to the legume family. At the moment, it grows on all continents and in many countries. Soybean is not demanding to the climate and growing conditions, therefore it is an indispensable crop in many nations of the world.

Historical information that has references to soy is very controversial. It is believed that it first appeared about 5,000 years ago. The first country to start cultivating this plant and using it for food was China. Then the soybeans went to other Asian countries, primarily to Korea and Japan.

This plant came to Europe only during the time of the Great geographical discoveries. In the XIX century, soybeans began to grow in the United States and Russia. However, this product received the greatest prevalence in the domestic market only after the Red Revolution. In times of economic crises in various countries, soy has gained a reputation as a cheap meat substitute.

How to make soybean oil

At the same time in the world among the production of all known varieties of vegetable oils, soybean has always occupied a leading place. Get it from soybean seeds in two ways: mechanical and extraction. In the first case, the classic spin is used, that is, the oil is extracted from the seeds under the pressure of the piston. In the second, the seeds are poured with derivatives of gasoline and await the formation of an oily liquid on its surface, which is then passed through a number of filters. So it turns out refined oil.

This oil has a higher boiling point than sunflower or olive. And it freezes at -18 ° C. That is why it is very convenient to use it in cooking for frying and baking.

The composition of the oil

Soya is considered the most useful plant of all existing. The fact is that it has essential amino acids that are necessary for the human body, but are not found in plants. That is why vegans replace soy meat products. At the same time, it contains essential fatty acids, which are in other plants, but not in animal products.

In addition, soy is rich in vitamins. It contains a large amount of vitamin A, E, PP, group B, as well as choline and biotin. Among the trace elements, the leading place is occupied by potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper and iron. Which of these substances are contained in soybean oil?

The greatest amount of it, of course, fatty acids. It is noteworthy that soybean oil is the record for the content of lecithin - a component of cell membranes necessary for the body. In general, this product contains the most useful fatty acids for humans: linoleic, linolenic, oleic.

Crude oil has vitamins A and E, as well as all trace elements and a small amount of protein. Refined oil, if it is not artificially enriched, is devoid of these components.

The benefits of soy and soybean oil

Let us return to the question of the benefits of this product and the possibility of replacing classic Russian dishes with it. Soybean and its derivatives have such properties as:

1. Protection against atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic plaques contain cholesterol in their composition, soy also has cholesterol antagonist fatty acids, which reduce its concentration in the blood. It is proved that when using soybean oil, the risk of developing coronary heart disease is reduced by 6 times.
2. Stimulation of immunity. This property is inherent in unrefined oil, containing in its composition all the vitamins and trace elements.
3. Protection against tumor cell degeneration. Due to the content of a large amount of tocopherol in soybean oil, its use is able to protect the body from cancer. Tocopherol is a natural antioxidant that stops lipid peroxidation - the main cause of the appearance of tumors.
4. Improving gastrointestinal motility. Like any other oil, this product is able to cope with constipation, accelerating the motor activity of the digestive tract.
5. Stimulation of the brain. Myelin, which is part of the sheath of neurons - is also fat. Soybean oil contributes to the renewal of this substance, which accelerates the process of transmitting impulses from one cell to another, and, consequently, makes the whole brain more efficient.
6. Healing wounds. For this, oil can be used both inwards and outwards. Lecithin, which is part of it and is necessary for the renewal of phospholipids of cell membranes, will contribute to the regeneration of the epithelium on the surface of the wound.
7. Fight against stress. Numerous vitamins and hormone-like substances also help in this.
8. Improving male potency. It was not possible to find out the exact nature of this phenomenon, but the experience of numerous studies shows that men who consume soybean oil often have problems in their sexual life.
9. Help sight. Vitamin A, which is in this product, is necessary for the normal functioning of the visual apparatus.Its use is necessary, especially in children and old age.

There is one very interesting fact: soybean almost never causes allergies. Soybean oil is also the most hypoallergenic of all vegetable oils. Soybean and its derivatives are used to make hypoallergenic mixtures for children. This is an indispensable product for babies who are contraindicated in milk and all milk formulas.

It is interesting to know that if properly cooked soy, you can not distinguish it from meat dishes to taste. In addition, soybean is sometimes replaced by vegetable writing. For example, most products sold as asparagus are actually soy. It is also added to bread to increase their weight and volume. Such use of this plant is a commercial deception.

Soybean and soybean oil damage

Soy has several harmful qualities, because of which it is necessary to limit the use of soybean oil. These include:

1. High calorie. The use of oil in large quantities may not be the best way to affect the figure.
2. Protease inhibitors. These protein substances are anti-enzymes.They prevent the breakdown of proteins. Those who replace meat with soy should be aware that the amino acids that make up the plant enter the body in very small quantities.
3. Negative effects on the pancreas. Due to the presence of inhibitors, the pancreas has to excrete more enzymes. This leads to its hypertofii and can cause pancreatitis.
4. Side effects of lectins. Lectins are substances that contribute to the hemolysis of red blood cells, the absorption of harmful substances in the intestines and can cause growth retardation in a child.

Thus, we can conclude that soybean oil is a product that contains a large amount of nutrients. Using it in small quantities has significant benefits for the body. However, in large doses, this product is harmful. It can lead to many unpleasant consequences.

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