Why Is Cottonseed Oil Not Considered Healthy?
Cottonseed oil is quite popular for a lot of topical and cooking benefits as well. It is primarily extracted from the seeds of Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium herbaceum. Cottonseed oil is a cost-effective and abundantly available cooking oil, extensively utilized by food manufacturers worldwide. It undergoes hydrogenation to enhance its stability and shelf life. Its versatility makes it a popular choice for the production of various commercially processed foods, including cookies, crackers, and potato chips. While this oil may be considered healthier than certain vegetable oils, it falls short of the health benefits provided by unsaturated oils like olive and safflower oils. The reason behind this disparity lies in its saturated fat content, which is nearly equivalent to the unsaturated fat content, making it harmful to heart health.
What Is the Nutrition Content of Cottonseed Oil?
The following nutrition information has been enlisted by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) for 0.5 ounces (13.6 grams) of cottonseed oil :
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Sodium: Nil.
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Carbohydrates: Nil.
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Fiber: Nil.
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Sugars: Nil.
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Fat: 0.5 ounces.
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Saturated Fat: 0.12 ounces.
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Protein: Nil.
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Total Calories: 120 kilocalorie.
It is evident from this data that there is zero carb and sugar content in the oil. Additionally, there are mainly three different types of fat that can be found in cottonseed oil. This oil contains a lot of saturated fat, which is considered less healthy and may be implicated in contributing to heart diseases. According to the American Heart Association, one should ideally choose oils that have less than 0.14 ounces (4 grams) of saturated fat per tablespoon (0.5 ounces). Cottonseed oil provides around 0.12 ounces (3.5 grams) of saturated fat per tablespoon, making it safe to use. Additionally, one can also derive around 0.25 ounces (7 grams) of polyunsaturated fat when consuming 0.5 ounces of this oil. Polyunsaturated fats, which are liquids at room temperature, are beneficial in boosting heart health (cardioprotective) and are more often recommended by health experts to replace the less healthy saturated and trans fats in diet. According to USDA data, one will additionally gain around 2 percent of the daily recommended intake of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) omega-3 fatty acids and around 58 percent, or close to 0.25 ounces (7 grams), of the recommended daily intake of linoleic acid (omega-6 fatty acids), both of which are polyunsaturated heart-healthy fats. The glycemic load of cottonseed oil is also negligible or zero. However, this oil contains no protein content, and one can find several other micronutrients in cottonseed oil.
Cottonseed oil can be a valuable source of vitamin E for one's diet, providing approximately 0.00017 ounces (5 milligrams) or roughly 32 percent of the recommended daily intake (based on consuming around 0.5 ounces of the oil). While saturated fats are generally deemed detrimental to heart health, cottonseed oil stands out due to its higher levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, both of which are beneficial polyunsaturated fats. These fats work to counterbalance the lower amounts of saturated fat found in the oil, making it a healthier choice for consumption. Since omega-3 and omega-6 are essential fats, it is crucial to include them in one's daily diet, as the body cannot produce these fats on its own. .According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, a cottonseed allergy is extremely rare, making it very safe for use by nearly all individuals.
Can Cottonseed Oil be used as Topical Application?
Some consumers advocate the use of cottonseed oil for both hair and skin health, believing that consuming the oil promotes hair growth. Another common use is topical application onto the skin to induce or promote hair growth. Applying cottonseed oil to the scalp for hair growth and preventing hair loss is a common recommendation by some practitioners. While cottonseed oil provides vitamin E and is promoted as beneficial for wound healing and treating scars to promote skin and hair health, there is still insufficient evidence to support these claims. According to the latest research, there is no proven benefit of its topical use, even though it is recommended by some healthcare practitioners.
What Is the Controversy Regarding the Systemic Health Benefits of Cottonseed Oil?
Cottonseed oil has a generally higher flash point than most other healthy oils, such as canola oil, olive oil, or safflower oil. The flash point, or smoking point, is the temperature at which the oil begins to smoke and release fumes, and this varies from oil to oil. Because the smoking point of cottonseed oil is approximately 420°F (or 215°C), it is extremely high and best recommended for frying and other high-heat cooking purposes or techniques.
The opinions of medical researchers are divided over this oil. While some believe that this is the healthiest oil for frying purposes owing to its polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat, others believe it may not be healthy because of the higher saturated content, which could be counterproductive to health. Additionally, in the recent decade, some consumers have raised concerns about the use of pesticides in cotton farming. The possibility of pesticides in the soil, even in trace amounts, could be detrimental to systemic health.
Is Cottonseed Oil Hydrogenated?
Cottonseed oil is very inexpensive which makes most of the food manufacturers use the hydrogenated cottonseed oil in the production of baked goods, crackers, cookies and other commercial food items. The hydrogenated oils are usually contributive to empty calories that would promote weight gain and is not ideally recommended for systemic benefits. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) stated in 2015 that hydrogenated oils, including partially hydrogenated foods, also known as artificial trans fats, are not considered safe for daily or regular consumption.
How Is Cottonseed Oil Stored and Used?
Cottonseed oil should ideally be stored in an airtight container only. It should be kept in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. Cottonseed oil is commonly used, even for baking and in sweet treats, in some countries. This oil typically has a rather neutral taste. For the same reason, it can be used as a substitute for other fats without affecting or changing the flavor of the dish one wants to create.
Conclusion:
To conclude, the neutral flavored cottonseed oil though inexpensive and commercially used for manufacturing food products and even for topical use remains popular, due to both lack of scientific evidence and the amount of saturated fat present in it offers a setback to using it as a full fledged cooking oil. Healthy alternatives would be the canola, olive, or safflower oil that are more cardioprotective in nature.
