Pecan nut, found primarily in Central to South and North America produces a very healthy oil for humans. It has a mild nutty flavor that makes it a very popular ingredient for essential oils and aromatherapy. The low saturated fat content in this oil makes it a healthier alternative for vegetable and mustard oil. This oil is not only suitable for eating but also for using it on your skin.
How is pecan oil made?
Pecan oil manufacturers usually follow two methods to derive the oil from pecan nuts.
- From raw pecan nuts
This oil has a light nutty flavor that is ideal for cooking. The shells of the nut are thrown away while the raw nuts go into the processor. There are grinders in the factories that crush the nuts and squeeze them to their maximum extent. This helps to extract the oil that you further use for cooking or dressing on salads. So, when you purchase pecan nut oil, make sure you check the label. It should specify that the oil is for cooking only.
- From roasted pecan nuts
Another method for extracting is roasting the nuts instead of crushing them directly. The pecan nuts go through a deep roasting process so that they provide a smoky scent. These oils are ideal when it comes to aromatherapy. Pecan oil is widely used as hair oil because of its ability to treat baldness. That is why the manufacturers deep roast the nuts so that they produce a sweet smell instead of the light fragrance as in the raw versions.
Uses of pecan oil
As already mentioned, pecan nut oil is gaining popularity across the globe because of its widespread uses and benefits.
- Massage oil
- Cosmetics
- Aromatherapy
- Bio-fuel
- Dips
- Cooking
- Sunless tanning products
- Salad dressings
Nutritional benefits of pecan nut oil
Pecan nuts have over 19 minerals and vitamins, such as phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, folic acid, potassium, vitamin E, vitamin A, zinc, and many others. Some of the nutritional values of pecan nut oil are given below:
- Carbohydrate
An ounce of pecan oil contains 1.1 grams of sugar and 2.7 grams of dietary fiber. Every serving has approximately 3.9 grams of carbohydrates, which is nearly 10% of your daily fiber intake.
- Calories and fat
Pecan nuts are a rich source of unsaturated fats. It has only 30% of polyunsaturated fats and 60% of monounsaturated fats. This oil is also a source of energy as 100 grams of pecan oil can provide 690 calories. Apart from polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, pecan oil also has alpha-linolenic acid. If you have an ounce of pecan oil, it will offer 1.7 grams of saturated fat, 11 grams of monounsaturated fat, and the remaining is polyunsaturated fat.
- Protein
Pecan oil is rich in protein and contains almost 2.6 grams of the nutrient. It is ideal for fulfilling approximately 4.6% of the daily protein requirement of adult males and 5.6% for adult females.
- Minerals
Pecan contains a handful of essential minerals that keeps your metabolism going. The nut is an excellent source of copper and manganese. An ounce of pecan oil serves almost 66% and 52% of the daily requirements of minerals in women and men, respectively.
- Vitamins
Pecan oil has gammatocopherol, and high quantities of Vitamin E. Every 100 grams of pecan oil contains 25 grams of gammatocopherol vitamins. Apart from gammatocopherol and Vitamin E, this oil also has a variety of Vitamin B, such as Vitamin B1. In addition to B1, you also get thiamin, which is very helpful for your health.
Pecan oil and fatty acid breakdown
Pecan oil is now considered as a heart-healthy food because it contains monounsaturated fats. With low quantities of saturated fats, this oil keeps your heart free from unhealthy fat.
Only 9.5% of the total fatty acid content in pecan oil has saturated fat. That means it has lower saturated fat than in butter which has 66%, peanut oil with 17%, and olive oil with 13.5%. Since pecan oil doesn’t have any additional additives, it is lighter than all the other cooking oils. This balance among all the types of fatty acids helps to reduce bad cholesterol from your body quickly. Plus, it keeps the heart safe from all the possible diseases like cardiac arrests and strokes.
Health benefits of pecan nut oil
Pecan nut oil contains a wide range of minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and nutrients that make it a healthier alternative over other oils. Some of its health benefits are as follows:
- Digestive health
Pecan nuts contain fiber that facilitates regular bowel movements and promotes colon health. You will notice better digestion once you start adding pecan oil in your daily diet. It improves the colon’s functions and efficiency because it quickly cleans the gastrointestinal system. Apart from reducing stomach problems like constipation, it also eliminates the risks of colon cancer, hemorrhoids, and colitis.
- Cardiovascular health
The rich fiber in pecan oil boosts your heart health to a great extent, thereby reducing the chances of coronary heart diseases. It contains phenolic antioxidants and oleic acid along with monounsaturated fats that are essential to keep your heart healthy. Once you start using pecan nut oil, it will prevent various heart diseases by inhibiting some of the unwanted oxidation of different blood lipids.
- Lesser chances of breast cancer
One of the reasons why thousands of doctors are recommending pecan nut oil to women is it helps to reduce breast cancer. It contains oleic acid. This is a type of fatty acid that helps to reduce the chances of breast cancer. The oleic acid in pecan oil increases the proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells so that they don’t promote the growth of these harmful cells.
- Helps to lose weight
Many dieticians and fitness trainers recommend olive oil to obese patients, but pecan oil is far more effective. Research shows that adding pecan oil to your regular diet produces surprising results by slimming the person down. Pecan oil increases your body’s metabolism and satiety so that the accumulated fat and calories break down to produce energy, thus reducing your overall weight.
- Improves your immune system
Pecans have a high percentage of manganese, which is one of the most efficient antioxidants around. This is a very useful trace mineral that not only improves your immune system but also keeps free-radicals away by protecting your nerve cells. Most importantly, consuming pecan oil is essential for brain functioning and nerve conduction.
- Prevents skin problems
In addition to keep the inside of your body healthy, pecan oil also cares for your outside body. That is why you should not only consume pecan oil but also use it on your skin. Once you start applying pecan oil on your skin, it will keep sudden breakouts, excess oil, and dullness away. Your skin contains a lot of toxins that you may not be aware of. That often deteriorates your appearance, especially when you see black spots and fine lines.
Applying pecan oil on your skin will help keep it soft and supple. It eliminates the waste and toxins from your body, which brings back the glow and beauty of your skin.
- Anti-aging solution
One of the essential antioxidants present in pecan oil is ellagic acid. Apart from that, it also has Vitamin E and Vitamin, both of which are crucial to keep your skin soft and smooth. These antioxidants eliminate free radicals that usually bring about aging skin. Many people suffer from premature skin aging. They notice fine lines and wrinkles on their face, especially below their eyes and on the cheeks. The triangular action of Vitamin A, E, and ellagic acid fight the free radicals to keep your skin free from wrinkles and fine lines.
- Provides a clear complexion
Pecan oil also contains zinc that is responsible for maintaining your overall skin health. Zinc guards your skin against various types of infections. In addition to zinc, Vitamin A also works on your skin to deliver a clean and clear complexion.
- Stimulates hair growth
L-arginine, one of the best amino acids, present in pecan oil, can prevent male baldness. Many men are concerned about their untimely hair loss, leading to patchy hair and baldness in several parts. Like women, they are also worried about their appearance. But, using pecan nut oil topically can improve the blood flow to the hair roots thus prevent hair loss
With so many benefits of pecan nut oil, its increasing popularity shouldn’t come as a surprise. Although it is slightly expensive, you will find it worth every penny because of the many wonders it offers, both internally and externally.