Sunflower oil is a popular cooking oil and ingredient used in many cosmetics and skin care products. It’s also used as a fuel and in the manufacture of plastic. However, some people have concerns about using sunflower oil because it’s derived from the sunflower seed. One of the main differences between crude and refined sunflower oil is that crude is unrefined, and refined is processed to remove impurities. Therefore, this paper compares both types of sunflower oil to examine their nutritional qualities, uses and advantages and disadvantages.
Both crude and refined sunflower oil have many uses in food preparation and nutritional supplementation. Crude oil is much more affordable than refined sunflower oil. In addition, scientists have found that sunflower seeds contain high amounts of vitamin E, protein, fats, minerals and dietary fiber. Medical experts also use sunflower seeds for treating skin diseases, wounds, cataracts and diabetes. Scientists have also discovered that the oil contains fatty acids such as oleic acid and linoleic acid. Both types of sunflower oil are used in the cosmetics field. However, only refined sunflower oil is commercially available.
Let’s dive into their properties! Crude oil is a yellowish-to-brown liquid while refined oil is a clear liquid with a mild smell. Both types of sunflower oil have a greasy feel when applied to the hair and skin. In addition, both crude and refined oils are insoluble in water but soluble in most organic solvents, such as alcohols, ketones and esters. Neither type of sunflower oil has any distillate or bitter components.
Although both crude and refined sunflower seeds contain useful nutrients, some consumers purchase refined sunflower seeds for their medical potential rather than culinary purposes. Therefore, people should understand that only refined sunflower seed oil is commercially available – the rest is only produced in laboratories for medical purposes. When purchasing cooking oils or other foods containing sunflower seed oil, be sure to buy only certified refined products to support scientific research into medicinal uses for this popular cooking ingredient.