Definition of Vegetable Oil

Vegetable oil is called the fatty part (organic compound: triglyceride) extracted from a plant, both from the fruit and from the seed, whose main components are: acid natural fat, vitamins, antioxidants and the famous trace elements that give it very distinctive characteristics that allow the use of this type of oils in the dermocosmetics.

Vegetable oil extraction process

The most common form of extraction is through a mechanical process, at low temperature, which ensures that its properties are preserved. For this reason, the type of pressing is going to be determining when determining the quality of the oil obtained and, in general, it is done cold.

Likewise, there are extraction methods at higher temperatures or with the use of some solvent. that allow greater efficiencies in the extraction process and, therefore, greater yield and lower costs of productionHowever, depending on the final use of the vegetable oil, one or other methods are used taking into account Note that part of its properties may not be preserved when subjected to some chemical extraction process.

It should be noted that many times we hear about oleate or vegetable oil extract and it is not the same as the oil itself. When vegetable oil is subjected to a controlled maceration and a process of filtration later, the oleate is obtained. Such is the case of lavender oleate, obtained from the maceration of olive or sunflower oil in lavender flowers.

Applications

In general, vegetable oils are widely used in cooking food and in dermocosmetics. Thanks to their high hydration power, they can be applied directly to the skin and nourish and protect it. They are known as cell regenerators and are the base component of essential oils and many products such as creams and soaps.

According to studies carried out by science, vegetable oils are a great source of natural antioxidants, therefore, they delay the aging process of the skin and improve its texture In addition to calming infections. Some vegetable oils also have antifungal and antibacterial qualities.

Types/examples of vegetable oils

Examples of some vegetable oils: soybean, olive, sunflower, sweet almond, sesame, rosehip, argan, wheat germ, hazelnut, coconut, among others.

Soybean oil is one of the most famous vegetable oils since it is one of the most widely produced worldwide. Thanks to its high content of omegas 3 and 6, zinc, iodine and vitamins E and K, it is a powerful antioxidant. In recent years, its use has also become popular in cooking food.

Sunflower oil is extracted from the seeds of the flower and it is of the linoleic type and provides different vitamins and healthy cardio fats, for this reason, and because it is one of the cheapest, it is used in the kitchen.

While olive oil has popularized its use in recent years, and is commonly known as "gold liquid”, by the Mediterranean culture that discovered its natural antioxidant properties and source of vitamin AND. In this case, the triglyceride is obtained from olive juice and its use is recommended in patients with hypertension. Unlike sunflower oil, its use in frying is not recommended as it decomposes at high temperatures and loses its properties.

Another typically used oil is corn oil. This type of oil is extracted from the corn germ. Although its known use is in the kitchen due to its affordable price, it is also an excellent raw material for the production of biodiesel and biofuels.

In addition, we can mention the coconut oil that has had a great boom in the last two years with the cooking nutritious and healthy food, a period in which there has been a considerable increase in his consumption. Likewise, thanks to the fact that it is rich in saturated fats, it can also be used as a hair regenerator. Doctors recommend this type of vegetable oil to regulate cholesterol and replace it with the use of butter. In appearance we can find it both solid and liquid.

As little-known vegetable oils, we can mention rapeseed oil, which, like sunflower oil, is of the linolenic type and its uses are similar to sunflower oil. Due to some diseases that were derived from bad practices of the vegetable itself and its associated processes, this oil has seen its use restricted in recent years due to its "bad reputation".

Another type of linoleic vegetable oil that is not widespread is grape oil. We hear a lot about the properties of grapes and wine, and grape oil does not escape them, since it turns out to be an excellent antioxidant and a source of vitamin E and omega 3 and 6. In turn, its use is recommended in the treatment of obesity and cholesterol since it does not contain bad cholesterol and prevents diseases such as diabetes.