Cottonseed oil is a healthy and affordable vegetable oil that is good for cooking due to its low cholesterol and saturated fat content. It performs well at high temperatures, has a long shelf life, and is high in antioxidants. Additionally, a compound found in Chinese medicine made from cottonseed oil may help chemotherapy be more effective in treating head and neck cancer.
Cottonseed oil is classified as a vegetable oil. It is extracted from the cotton plant, or more precisely from the seeds, and is generally used for cooking. Because it requires no hydrogenation, it is lower in cholesterol than many other oils and has little or no trans fat per serving. Seed oils are preferred for diets that require a low intake of saturated fat. This makes cottonseed a good oil for preparing healthier foods.
Kitchen tests show that cottonseed oil performs as well as or better than other oils for cooking foods and withstands higher temperatures. It lasts a long time and keeps well, thanks to its high antioxidant content. This oil also gives fried foods a similar, but lighter flavor than other oils, and the food achieves a similar color and texture. French fries and fried snacks can have a longer shelf life due to its antioxidant qualities.
Along with each of these properties, cottonseed oil also costs less than many other varieties, making it popular with restaurant owners and snack manufacturers. The oil meets the government’s highest food-grade standards, in part because it can be cleaned and processed to the highest purity without losing its nutritional value. Very few others can make the same claim.
However, cottonseed oil isn’t just good for healthier cooking and eating. In a recent study, researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center presented news of a compound found in Chinese medicine made from the oil. This compound, called (-)-gossypol, can help chemotherapy be more effective in patients with head and neck cancer. Such tumors have typically not been very treatable with chemo or radiation, leaving many patients with no choice but surgery.
Although more research is needed, it is believed that this compound can block certain proteins that create resistance to chemical treatments and may also limit tumor growth. So far, the results have been somewhat promising and, at this stage, (-)-gossypol shows no signs of damage to healthy tissue. Cottonseed oil and its derivatives may play a vital role in helping people live healthier lives and in curing disease now and in the future.
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