Joy Anyim
Groundnut oil is a type of vegetable oil. It is used for cooking, frying and sometimes used for preserving food items. Also called peanut oil, groundnut oil has a range of beneficial nutrients.
Basically, it has a low percentage of saturated fats, a high percentage of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. It is also very rich in essential vitamins and has good antioxidants.
The regular kind of vegetable oil many call
groundnut oil is not rich in these nutrients. It is advised that when buying, buy a brand approved by the regulatory authority in your country. Also buying your groundnut oil from a known store and reading the label will also guide you.
While some persons may say it is cheaper to patronise the roadside sellers of the unbranded and so-called groundnut oil, the health implication of using such oil is always more expensive than the extra amount you would spend in getting a good groundnut oil your heart and overall health will thank you for.
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Nutrients in groundnut oil are sodium, zinc, calcium, selenium, phosphorous, Iron, copper, gloates, vitamin A, C, E, fibre, and more.
Here are a few benefits of using groundnut oil in cooking or preparing your food.
1. Helps in lowering cholesterol: groundnut oil does not contain cholesterol. The plant sterols in groundnut oil are efficient in this regard.
2. Helps promoting healthy heart: The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat in groundnut oil is good for heart health. The unsaturated fat reduces bad cholesterol which triggers the risk of heart disease when high.
3. Prevent cancer: The high level of antioxidants in groundnut oil is known as resveratrol and polyphenol which function as agent for interacting with the free radicals in the body thereby eliminating the chances of cancer growth.
4. Promotes skin health: This is thanks to the Vitamin E contained in groundnut oil. This protects the skin from skin diseases, wrinkles, scaly skin and other skin troubles.
5. The fibre in groundnut oil helps in the prevention of digestive disorder such as bloating, constipation and other problems.
6. It is used for body massage and the treatment of joint problems.
7. Lowers Blood pressure. The high content of resveratrol in groundnut oil helps in decreasing blood pressure. This antioxidant in groundnut oil positively interacts with numerous hormones, such as angiotensin, which compress vessels and arteries.
8. Prevents cognitive disorder: The constant use of groundnut oil improves cognitive disorders.
9. Also good for hair growth, treatment of dandruff and dry lips.
However, for persons with some kind of health challenges, if advised by a doctor to stay away from anything that has oil, including groundut oil. It is better to abstain for the period of the treatment and return on doctor’s advice.