*Corn oil is a vegetable oil extracted from the kernels of corn (maize).

*It is a cooking oil generally used as a frying oil because of its high smoking point and also mixed in margarines, has a mild taste and less expensive than other vegetable oils.

*Besides cooking, corn oil has wide range of uses in cosmetic industry, industrial applications, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.

*Though it has some health benefits, it is not one of the best vegetable oils to be used regularly.

*To prevent the imbalance of dietary fats, which may cause certain diseases, it is good to mix oils with different fatty acid profiles to get all the fatty acids needed for the body.

*It is a liquid at room temperature, but it is hydrogenated to make frying oil or margarines and hydrogenated oil contains trans fats which are not healthy.

*Like with all other foods, moderation is the key.

Is it raw?

No. It is heat processed during extraction and refining. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Corn oil is low in saturated fats, about 13%, and high in unsaturated fats, about 28% of monounsaturated fats and about 58% of polyunsaturated fats and no cholesterol.

2. It lowers the LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol and increase the HDL cholesterol in the blood, which reduces the risk of heart disease and cancers.

3. Rich source of essential fatty acids, linoleic acid (omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), which are the precursors of prostaglandins, the hormone like substances that have a variety of functions in the human body like contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles, contraction and dilation of the blood vessels, controls blood pressure, reducing pain and inflammation etc.

4. Alpha-linolenic acid, the omega-3 fatty acid in corn oil, promotes a healthy heart, reduces hypertension, reduces the risk of autoimmune diseases and cancers, acts as a blood thinner and prevents the formation of clots and improves depression.

5. Has about 70% of vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that fights against the harmful free radicals in the body and maintains the integrity of cell membrane.

6. Very good source of phytosterols, the plant compounds which act as antioxidants along with vitamin E in fighting against free radicals.

7. Has a small amount of trans fats, about 0.3%, which are not very healthy for the heart, they raise the total and LDL cholesterol in the blood.