Amaranth oil. Product benefits and disadvantages

Healthy properties of amaranth oil have long been known to people. It contains the antitumor substance squalene and a set of essential amino acids. Much can be told about amaranth oil: the benefits and harm to the human body, medicinal properties, caloric content, the content of vitamins and fatty acids.

Amaranth (shiritsa) is a widespread herbaceous annual plant with dense inflorescences-panicles. Oil is obtained from small grains of dark brown color by the method of cold pressing. Biologically valuable amaranth oil is 100% natural.

The storage rules are simple: the ambient temperature is up to + 25 ° C, the container is tightly closed, there is no access to light and moisture. Amaranth oil, the benefits and harms of which are well studied, will become useless after 30 days after the packaging is unpacked.

This plant also produces cereals and flour, oil, starch, in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry - lysine and squalene. The flour is added to the confectionery and bread products. Amaranth can serve as a vitamin-protein component in dietary and vegetarian nutrition. In a daily diet, a useful oil is added to soups and casseroles, salads and omelettes. Amaranth oil with a nutty taste has a pleasant smell, it is fried and stewed.

Amaranth oil: properties, composition

The leaves of amaranth are rich in vitamin C, magnesium, and proteins. As in corn, in amaranth oil there is a lot of linoleic acid (not less than 50%). Vitamin E is found in the tocotrienol form. This rare form increases its antioxidant capacity.

What does not contain amaranth oil! Benefit and harm (the first prevails) are due to its diverse composition. Up to 9% of phospholipids, bile, arachidonic, linolenic, pantothenic, oleic and palmitoleic acids, carotenoids, phytosterols, thiamine and vitamin D, riboflavin and pyridoxine, niacin equivalent, choline, magnesium, calcium and iron. In large quantities, the oil contains potassium, phosphorus, copper. 100 g of amaranth oil have a calorific value of 736 kcal. Proteins and carbohydrates in oil - 0 g, and fat - 81.8 g.

Squalene in the composition of amaranth oil

Squalene in significant quantities (from 0.2 to 1%) is found in elite varieties of olive and linseed oil, but amaranth significantly outranks them by the content of this substance (8%). Squalene is a source of synthesis of steroids and triterpenes, takes part in the process of saturation of body tissues with oxygen, has antitumor and anticarcinogenic properties, increases resistance to viruses, bacteria and fungal infections. Squalene is a part of many dietary supplements and elite cosmetics.

Indications and contraindications

The medicinal properties of a product such as amaranth oil, its benefits and harm, as well as contraindications to the use are described in detail in books on traditional medicine. It is recommended to use amaranth oil for cardiovascular diseases, colitis, stomach ulcer, viral hepatitis, anemia, diseases of the oral cavity, obesity, infections, diabetes, nervous disorders. Amaranth oil effectively helps in the treatment of burns, wounds, dry eczema and psoriasis.

Damage to amaranth oil can bring only in very rare cases. Its use is contraindicated in case of bile and urolithiasis, acute and chronic cholecystitis, pancreatitis.

Amaranth oil is sold in pharmacies and online stores, but it can be prepared independently.