*Rice bran oil is edible oil extracted from the germ and inner husk of rice.

*It is considered one of the ‘healthiest’ and ‘heart friendly’ vegetable oils.

*It is widely used in Asian countries like China, Japan, India, etc.

*It is a liquid at room temperature with a mild flavor and light texture, and does not impart any color or flavor to the foods.

*Has a high smoking point of 490 F, which prevents the break down of fatty acids at high temperatures, making it more stable.

*It is used for deep frying, stir frying, baking, salad dressing, mixed with other oils to make margarines, etc.

*The fatty acid profile of rice bran oil is closer to peanut oil.

*It is more stable at room temperature without hydrogenation than other vegetable oils like soy oil, so it is mixed with other vegetable oils to make them more stable.

*Besides cooking, rice bran oil is also used in cosmetic industry in the preparation of soaps, lipsticks, sunscreens, etc.

*Like all oils, rice bran oil has to stored away from light and heat but does not need to be refrigerated.

Is it raw?

Yes and No.
*Yes, if it is cold pressed or unrefined, as it is not heat processed or exposed to harmful chemicals. Cold pressed oil has a deep color and flavor.
*No if it is refined, as it is exposed to heat in the process of refining. Make sure you read the label.

Health Benefits

1. Rice bran oil has moderate amount of saturated fats and high amount of unsaturated fats, 40% monounsaturated fats and 35% polyunsaturated fats.

2. Oleic acid, the monounsaturated fat present in rice bran oil, lowers the LDL and total cholesterol content and maintains HDL cholesterol content in the blood.

3. Good source of essential fatty acids,

1.6% alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3) and 33% linoleic acid (omega-6), which are the precursors of prostaglandins, the hormone like substances that have a variety of functions like contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles, control of blood pressure, pain and inflammatory response, etc in humans.

4. Excellent sources of vitamin E, tocotrienols, gamma-oryzanol, polyphenols, etc which have antioxidant properties.

5. Gamma-oryzanols have been proved to decrease the absorption of cholesterol from the intestines, reduce LDL cholesterol in blood, reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and other heart diseases, inhibit platelet aggregation, treat nerve imbalances, etc.

6. Rice bran oil is the next best source of tocotrienols, next to palm oil, which are isomers of vitamin E and are powerful antioxidants.

7. Tocotrienols, polyphenols and other phytosterols are powerful antioxidants. They fight against the free radicals in the body and reduce the risk of certain type of cancers (breast, prostate, etc), cardiovascular, autoimmune, and degenerative diseases.

8. Rice bran oil has a tendency to form a good balance of plasticity, creaminess, and spreading properties, which makes it a good choice to use in margarines. This same property makes it a good choice as a base ingredient in the preparation of cosmetics like lipsticks, sunscreen lotions and creams, etc.