Camellia oil, peony oil, Xanthoceras sorbifolia oil..., this article will introduce you to healthy woody edible oils

In the fast-paced modern life, scientific diet has become an important way for people to pursue health. The dietary concept of "less salt and less oil" has gradually gained popularity, so why "less oil"? It turns out that the edible oils we commonly use, such as soybean oil and sunflower oil, are taken from herbal oil soybeans and sunflower seeds. Although they can provide essential fatty acids, excessive intake or improper cooking methods may have adverse effects on health.

For example, sunflower oil and soybean oil contain high levels of Omega-6 fatty acids. Although they are essential fatty acids, if they are consumed in excess, especially when the ratio is unbalanced with Omega-3 fatty acids, they may promote inflammatory responses and increase the risk of chronic diseases. Some edible oils may produce harmful substances during high-temperature cooking, and long-term excessive intake may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

In recent years, scientists have recommended the use of edible oils extracted from woody oils, such as tea oil, walnut oil, olive oil, etc., because they have more health benefits for the human body. my country is rich in woody oil tree species, which are an important part of my country's forest resources. There are more than 150 tree species with seed oil content of more than 40%, and they mainly grow in low mountain and hilly areas. They have the unique advantage of not competing with farmland and grain fields. The annual output of edible oil is about 1 million tons, accounting for 9% of the domestic production of plant edible oils and 3% of the national consumption of plant edible oils. Most woody oil edible oils have unique health benefits and nutritional value because they are rich in unsaturated fatty acids, and have gradually become a new choice for healthy diet. The country is also vigorously developing woody oil edible oils that are healthier for the human body. In the future, more people can choose healthy woody edible oils that are more beneficial to the human body as a must-have on the table.

Camellia oil

Camellia oleifera is mainly distributed in many southern provinces of my country. It is widely planted in Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangxi and other regions, with a planting area of ​​more than 75 million mu. Its output accounts for about 90% of woody edible oil and vegetable oil, making it a well-deserved "large oil producer". Camellia oleifera oil is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and is suitable for high-temperature cooking (240-270℃). It can be heated at high temperatures without immediately producing smoke or decomposition, which helps to maintain the flavor and nutrition of food, and helps consumers reduce low-density lipoprotein (bad cholesterol) and increase high-density lipoprotein (good cholesterol), thereby maintaining cardiovascular health.

olive oil

Olives are mainly grown in the warm western and southern regions of my country, such as Gansu, Yunnan, Sichuan, etc., with a planting area of ​​more than 1.3 million mu and an annual output of more than 10,000 tons of olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids, phenolic compounds, squalene, vitamins, etc. It has antioxidant, anti-tumor, blood sugar, blood pressure, blood lipid and other effects and is known as "fragrant soft gold". However, olive oil has different smoke points due to different production processes. Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil has a low smoke point and is not suitable for high-temperature cooking. It is more suitable for eating at room temperature, such as shaking cold dishes.

Walnut Oil

Walnuts are most widely distributed in my country, reaching more than 20 provinces, mainly in northern regions such as Xinjiang and Shanxi, with a planting area of ​​more than 100 million mu and an annual output of more than 30,000 tons of walnut oil. Walnut oil contains a large amount of Omega-3 unsaturated fatty acids, which are particularly important for brain health. It also helps to fight inflammation and reduce the risk of heart disease, and has a protective effect on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, walnut oil has a relatively low smoke point and is not suitable for high-temperature cooking, such as frying or high-temperature cooking, to avoid the production of harmful substances.

Peony Seed Oil

Oil-producing peonies are mainly distributed in Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi and other provinces in my country, with a planting area of ​​more than 1.9 million mu, and an annual output of 53,000 tons of peony seed oil. Peony seed oil has a high smoke point, suitable for high-temperature cooking, and contains a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acids, which are fatty acids that the human body cannot synthesize on its own and must be ingested through diet. Its nutritional value is also reflected in its effects of slowing down aging, nourishing the skin, and reducing inflammation and blood sugar, making it a rare and ideal choice for people.

Tobacco Oil

As one of the few woody oil-bearing tree species in Northeast my country, the national planting area of ​​​​Quanzi is about 20 million mu, with an annual output of 137,000 tons. It is the oil-bearing tree species with the most development potential. Its nutritional value is similar to that of peony seed oil. It contains a certain amount of essential fatty acids for the human body, such as linolenic acid (Omega-3) and linoleic acid (Omega-6). These fatty acids are essential for maintaining the integrity and function of cell membranes. At the same time, it is also beneficial to human digestive health, skin and hair care, and brain health.

Xanthoceras sorbifolia L. oil

Xanthoceras sorbifolia can be made into both oil and tea, and can be called the real "northern oil-tea". Its seeds contain 30.8% oil, and its kernels contain 66.39% oil. The unsaturated fatty acid content in its oil is as high as 94%, with linoleic acid accounting for 36.9% and oleic acid accounting for 57.6%, which is higher than walnut oil, tea oil and olive oil. Xanthoceras sorbifolia is currently being developed in China to a certain extent, but it is still in the early stages of industrial development as a whole, and further research, promotion and market development are needed. With the country's support for the woody oil industry and the in-depth research of scientific researchers, the development potential of Xanthoceras sorbifolia is expected to be more widely recognized and utilized.