The health benefits of sunflower oil in your baby’s diet include protection from asthma, control of cholesterol levels, digestion improvement, strengthening of the immune system, acne cure, prevent anemia, to name a few.

Sunflower oil is a stable oil that is extracted from the flower. The oil is made by pressing sunflower seeds, giving out a stable oil used in cosmetics, medicines and cooking. It has a high content of fatty acids, including stearic acid, linoleic acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid.  These fatty acids are extremely important to us for our overall good health, something that sunflower oil can do very well.

The fatty acids contained in sunflower oil act as antioxidants that have wide-ranging effects on several medical conditions. It has many more polyunsaturated fats other vegetable oils. Overall, it has many benefits for growing children, such as:

13 Health Benefits of Sunflower Oil for Kids

Protects from developing Asthma

Sunflower oil is rich in Vitamin E, so adding this to your child’s diet will protect him from developing asthma.

Controls Cholesterol levels

Sunflower oil has high levels of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats which are energy-giving, besides also maintaining the perfect balance of LDL and HDL in the body. This oil also contains lecithin which plays an instrumental role in reducing cholesterol levels as it sticks to the nerve and cell walls, thereby preventing any cholesterol and fat from adhering to the cell walls.

Infant infection

Pre-term infants have a high risk of catching infection due to their underdeveloped organs and immune system, which can be averted by sunflower oil.

Healthy nervous system

Sunflower oil is rich in Vitamin B which encourages the development of a strong and healthy nervous system, good digestive system and great reserves of energy.

Healthy skin

Vitamin E-rich sunflower oil helps in regenerating skin cells and improving overall skin health. This oil therefore protects the skin from sun damage. Vitamin E, being an antioxidant, destroys free radicals and prevents them from further killing healthy cells. Wounds and scars of children heal faster and better and a natural skin glow can also be seen.

Babies four months and older can have body massages with safe oils like sunflower oil which contains linoleic acid.  Linoleic acid is a fatty acid which protects the skin barrier and is safe and good for the baby.

Immune system

Antioxidants also have a positive impact on the immune system of children and its ability to resist infection. Sunflower oil strengthens the immune system by protecting the skin and the membrane barriers, which makes it more difficult for viruses and bacteria to penetrate the body.

Improves Digestion

By adding fiber to your child’s diet, his digestion will be regular. It will also prevent constipation.

Beta-Carotene

Beta-carotene is fat-soluble and can be converted into Vitamin A and related antioxidants that give healthy skin and overall health. This is prevalent in sunflower oil in good measure. It makes the skin bear the sun’s harsh rays. The antioxidants it contains help destroy the free radicals that try to enter the skin, causing sun damage like sunburn, tanning and skin cancer.

Calm mind

Sunflower oil can play a great role in calming the mind, thanks to tryptophan in the oil. s in the oil. This amino acid helps produce melatonin and serotonin, hormones that give children peaceful sleep. So, if your child is insomniac, give him sunflower seeds or food cooked in sunflower oil and let him sleep soundly.

Anemia

Anemia develops when red blood cells and hemoglobin are insufficient in the body. Children who suffer from this condition should be given food cooked in sunflower oil or sunflower seeds which are rich in iron and can produce the required number of red blood cells.

Read more: Home Remedies for Iron Deficiency in Infants

Acne

Sunflower oil has an abundance of Vitamins A, C and D. It also has healthy carotenoids and waxes which act as a protective barrier to the skin. Thus, this oil treats acne very effectively. Since it is very light and non-greasy, it is absorbed into the skin very easily, negating the chances of blocking the pores or clogging them. It has several vitamins and fatty acids that work as antioxidants that regenerate the skin cells and contribute to eliminate bacteria that causes acne.

Read more: Home Remedies for Treating Baby Acne Quickly and Naturally

Anti-inflammatory

Vitamin E is anti-inflammatory and since it is prevalent in sunflower oil in large measure, it helps prevent bronchitis, flu, asthma, laryngitis and cough.

Conclusion

Though it is true that sunflower oil contains fatty acids that are required by the body, and it also has a higher content of Omega-6 than other vegetable oils. Yet, care must be taken to see that obese kids or those with problems of cholesterol do not take too much of this as it can result in an imbalance of fatty acids in the body, as this could be dangerous. By monitoring your child’s health, you can see the many benefits of this amazing cooking oil.