For a long time, the safflower plant was grown by farmers. It was quite popular among folk healers, in cooking and in everyday life. Chinese doctors used safflower to eliminate vascular and heart pathologies. In ancient Egypt, a plant was used to dye mummy dressings. Dried safflower flowers were found during excavations in the pyramids. The plant was cultivated in India, countries of Asia and Africa, and a little later it appeared in Europe.
Safflower in Russia was called wild saffron. Initially, it was grown as a seasoning, which found its use in cooking and baking. A little later, in the eighteenth century, beautifully flowering plants began to decorate the gardens of Moscow. Over time, safflower oil was produced from its seeds. It has been a valuable nutritious product. By its quality characteristics, it was not inferior to
sunflower oil. And in many respects even surpassed him.
Safflower oil, the benefit of which is due to the presence of linoleic acid in its composition , is an indispensable component of a person's daily nutritional diet. In addition, the product has excellent moisturizing properties. This allows you to use it to treat dehydrated skin.
Safflower oil has a light aroma with a touch of meadow flowers and a slight nutty flavor. It is transparent and golden. Unrefined safflower oil is slightly lighter. At the same time, it has practically no taste and smell. The product is obtained by cold or hot pressing. The solvent extraction method is also used. In the production of the product, plant seeds are used.
Safflower oil, whose properties are determined by its chemical composition, contains
vitamins F, K and E, as well as various minerals. Active substances such as chalcone glycosides and serotonin derivatives are present in the product. The composition of safflower oil contains a variety of
acids: stearic and myristic, palmitic and oleic, linoleic and behenic, eicosapentaenoic and locozaghexenic.
Safflower oil is loved by culinary experts all over the world. It tastes like sunflower in taste, but it smells like flowers. It is most widely used in Asian recipes. The product has a high smoke point. Therefore, it is great for deep fat and frying. Due to the ability of safflower oil not to harden, while maintaining a liquid consistency during cooling, it is widely used in those salads that are served cold to the table. Apply the product in the preparation of mayonnaise and sauces, as well as cold dishes.
In addition to cooking, safflower seed oil is used in cosmetology. It moisturizes and softens the skin, while perfectly absorbed by the epidermis and improves blood circulation of the capillaries. The use of oil from safflower seeds allows you to tighten the skin. This eliminates the signs of premature aging. The healing product is recommended as an anti-inflammatory and healing agent. It is effective in the fight against cellulite.
The use of safflower oil for metabolic disorders, constipation and diabetes, obesity and problems with the digestive system is shown. It helps with insect bites, and is also used as a choleretic and diuretic.