Learn some useful facts about corn oil nutrition through this article. Keep reading to know the pros and cons associated with its use.
Though corn oil can’t be called one of the essential oils, it has its share of uses. If you are interested in knowing how beneficial corn oil can be, then you will get to know from the paragraphs below. First of all, we need to know the gist of what is corn oil and how it is manufactured. Well, corn oil, as the name indicates, is made, rather, extracted from corn, that is the germ of the corn. The oil extraction process is called ‘pressing’, after which the oil is processed so that it can be used, commercially. Corn oil has not only been used as a vegetable oil for cooking, but for various other purposes, mainly in textiles, paint manufacturing, and pharmaceutical industries.
Corn Oil Nutritional Information
Before getting into the facts and benefits, let us see the exact nutritional values associated with its use. If you check the table properly, you will realize that corn oil does not contain any carbohydrates or proteins; it is essentially made up of unsaturated fatty acids and thus all the calories come from fats only. Also, it is devoid of essential minerals like iron and calcium. However, it is a good source of vitamin E. We will talk in detail about the same, but first take a look at the table for better understanding. The nutritional values of corn oil are as follows.
serving size=218 grams (1 cup)
Nutrition | Corn Oil Nutritional Values |
Total Fat | 218 grams |
Saturated Fat | 28 grams |
Trans Fat | 1 gram |
Polyunsaturated Fats | 119.2 grams |
Monounsaturated Fats | 60.1 grams |
Calories from Fats | 1927 |
Vitamin E | 10% |
Total Calories in Corn Oil | 1927 |
Nutritional Benefits
- As previously stated, corn oil is high on fats mainly because it is made from the fatty acid chains. Now, if you see the table, the amounts of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are very high as compared to other fats. These type of fats are essentially very useful to the human body (good fats) mainly because they help prevent any heart related problems by keeping the cholesterol levels under control, and of course, optimum. This automatically reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks, and stroke as well.
- However, on the other hand, saturated and trans fats belong to category of bad fats which do the reverse, as in they increase the risk of heart diseases, atherosclerosis, and related problems. Many a time, they are a probable cause of breast cancer as well. If you check the values present in the table; the amounts of saturated and trans fats are very low, which is one of the major benefits of the use of corn oil.
- Another beneficial aspect is the presence of vitamin E. It is a known fact that vitamin E is excellent for enhancing the immune system of an individual and also acts as an antioxidant by preventing damage from the free radicals.
Owing to its nutritional benefits, it is definitely advisable to include corn oil in day-to-day cooking. Research suggests that corn oil has been mainly used for frying potato chips in most places, as compared to other food items. There is no other healthier way to include corn oil in your diet but as salad dressings! Having said all this, corn oil should not be used way too much, because of its high fat content.
This was all about corn oil nutrition. Corn oil is definitely a good option to opt for, but having a corn cob is an altogether different experience! Eat healthy!