Ingredient Information

Function

Soybean oil is one of the most widely used cooking mediums across the world. It is also sold as vegetable oil. The oil can also be used for salad dressings, savory sauces, mayonnaise, crackers, cookies and snacks. The oil has a high smoke point, which makes it fit for stir-frying.

Other Use and Industries

Soybean oil is often used by mosquito repellant companies.

Health Effects

According to the National Soybean Research Laboratory, soybean oil is rich in B vitamins thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, inositol and choline, as well as vitamins A and E.

According to the MayoClinic.com, beta-sitosterol, a type of plant sterol found in soybean oil, prevents absorption of cholesterol, reducing potential risks of heart disease and relieving those suffering from diabetes. Beat-sitosterol also improves urine flow symptoms in conditions like prostatic hyperplasia, an enlarged prostate, as mentioned in the British Journal of Urology in the June 1999 issue.

Soybean oil, combined with avocado oil, relieves osteoarthritis of the hip and helps treat overall disability.

Soybean oil also helps stimulate gastrointestinal functioning and serves as an intravenous feeding aid.

Soy contains antinutrients which may prevent the absorption of beneficial nutrients from food.

Soy also contains phytoestrogen which reacts with hormones in the system. Oils should be consumed in moderation to maintain healthy body weight, particularly by those with heart disease or diabetes.

Origins

Soybean oil is extracted from the soy plant. The soy plant is indigenous to Southeastern Asia. The soybeans obtained from the soybean plants are cracked and subjected to moisture adjustment by mildly heating them and rolling them into flakes.