What is Sunflower Oil?
Sunflower oil comes from sunflower seeds (Helianthus annuus), which are packed with many nutrients, including meaningful amounts of vitamins E, A, folate, and choline. However, sunflower oil is different. First of all, it is extracted from a different type of seed than the one you’ll find in the snack aisle. Secondly, due to the way it is processed, the oil itself ends up losing a great part of its nutrient content.
Keto Status?
Objectionable
Why?
It’s a high-linoleic oil that has fragile PUFAs (poly-unsaturated fatty acids) which may oxidize in a hot pan.
Possible Side Effects From Ingesting Sunflower Oil?
Oxidized lipids interact with free radicals, creating a domino effect of inflammation in your arteries and, in turn, accelerating the formation of arterial plaques. These pro-inflammatory conditions might accelerate not only atherosclerosis but also heart disease. Sunflower oil is also higher in Omega 6 fatty acids than Omega 3s.
Source
PLEASE NOTE ** I Heart Keto Mart will add more sources and up-to-date research articles as they come to our attention. We welcome any of our viewers to send us any information/research/articles that you think would be of interest to our rating decision. Keep in mind – we are not rating ingredients solely on their general health benefits or side effects. To see our rating process, click on the link below.
I Heart Keto Mart Rating Guide
We are ratings all ingredients through a “keto diet” & “low carb diet” lens. As an example, peas would be rated as “Acceptable” on a non-keto healthy diet. However, due to their carbohydrate level, we rate them “Objectionable”. We also rate all sweeteners that typically affect blood sugar and insulin levels as “Objectionable”.
If you prefer a natural sweetener like honey, over a sugar alcohol like erythritol, you may not agree with our “Objectionable” rating. I Heart Keto Mart rates all ingredients based first and foremost for those that have a sugar/carbohydrate addiction. We rate ingredients for those who must moderate if not completely abstain from any sugars. If you have questions about this, please refer to this article: Why Some Whole Foods Are Not Keto Friendly