There is a lot of discourse and discussion today around the best kind of fat to use for cooking. From coconut and avocado oil to animal-derived fats like ghee, each fat has its own set of health benefits. Soyabean oil is one of best forms of plant-based fat, and an ideal cooking oil for vegetarians, vegans, non-vegetarians and flexitarians alike. It is extracted and produced from the seeds of the soyabean plant.
Refined soyabean oil is a vegetable oil that’s extracted from the seeds of the soyabean plant. It is a natural oil and chiefly a poly-unsaturated fat-rich vegetable oil. The major major poly-unsaturated fatty acid contained in soyabean oil is linoleic acid (Omega-6).
Liv® refined soyabean oil from Living Foods is light and pure. It is ideal for cooking, frying and sautéing. It has a superior health profile as it is rich in plant sterols, vitamins and poly-un- saturated fats. Thanks to its high levels of unsaturated fat and a rich sterol content, it keeps the heart healthy, and may support bone health, which is important for people of all ages, but particularly supports women as they age and experience loss of bone mass. It also promotes skin health and other critical bodily functions.
Soyabean oil is truly a very versatile oil which is also easy to use. It has a high smoke point which allows it to not deteriorate at high cooking and frying temperatures. The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which the fats start to break down and oxidize. When oxidation occurs, harmful, disease-causing compounds called free radicals are produced, which can cause oxidative stress in the body.
Soybean oil has a relatively high smoke point of about 230°C. It is therefore very good for frying, sautéing, and using to blend with other oils. Refined soyabean oil is also a good option for high-heat cooking methods like roasting and baking, as it can withstand higher temperatures. The health benefits of refined soyabean oil are many. It works to lower cholesterol levels by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the gut. It helps lower total cholesterol and LDL (or "bad") cholesterol, without affecting the levels of HDL (or "good") cholesterol. Products which make use of soybean oil - like eggless mayonnaise - also work to lower both total and "bad" cholesterol levels.
Research also suggests that consuming a tablespoon of the oil each day as part of a low-fat, low cholesterol diet may help prevent cardiovascular disease.
Studies also suggest that refined soyabean oil may support bone health. It's rich in vitamin K, which may help maintain bone strength and reduce the risk of fractures. The oil also contains a good amount of Omega-3 fatty acids per serving. Omega-3s have been linked to a number of health benefits and play an integral role in heart health, foetal development, brain function, and immunity. (Soyabean oil, interestingly, is also used as a mosquito repellent and as a nutritional supplement for intravenous feeding.)
