Cooking Oil Facts: Rice bran Oil
Rice bran oil (also called to as rice oil or heart oil) is extracted from rice. Rice Bran oil is also an expensive oil. Rice bran is similar to other vegetable cooking oils, but has some unique properties. It is light and has a nut-like taste. It is a stable oil and has a smoke point of 490 degrees F. That is higher than olive oil, grapseed oil, and peanut oil. It can be used in frying, sauteing, in salads dressings, baking, and general cooking.
The Benefits of Rice Bran Oil
Rice bran oil has high level of antioxidants nutrient such as tocotrienols, gamma oryzanol, and tocopherols. It contains vitamins and it is trans fat free. It contains approximately 20% saturated fat, 40% poly-unsaturated fat, (which contains essential fatty acids) and 40% mono-unsaturated fat (Gunstone, 2011).
Rice bran can help lower cholesterol, fight diseases, and enhance the immune system. Rice bran oil is considered to be the healthiest oil around. This oil is most popular in Japan and some far-eastern countries and has been touted as having anti-cancer effects. However, it is not proven that it can prevent cancer of the colon or rectum. It may be effective in treating high cholesterol. It can prevent kidney stones and stomach cancer. However, the author,