If you are looking for a natural or organic supplement to add to your diet for the promotion of overall general health, then cotton seed may be a fitting option for you. Derived from the plant bearing the same name, cotton seed features active ingredients that, according to the Ohio State Cancer Center, not only may offer help in the prevention of cancer, but can also lower cholesterol levels when made into an oil, reports "Inform" magazine. However, be sure to speak to your medical doctor or nutritionist about the benefits of cotton seed for you.
Trans-Fat Alternative
According to "Inform" magazine, a magazine from the American Oil Chemists' Society, cotton seed oil may provide a healthy oil alternative in cooking. U.S. dietary guidelines advise limiting the intake of fats or oils high in saturated or trans-fatty acids due to their negative impact on both LDL and HDL cholesterol levels in the blood. When not in balance, high levels of either cholesterol can lead to heart failure, heart attack or other cardiac disorders. Cotton seed oil has enough saturated fatty acids to keep it stable but is low enough in unsaturates that it makes a healthy vegetable oil that you can use in frying or in salad dressings without sacrificing taste.
Baking Ingredient
Another edible version of cotton seed is shortening. As "Inform" magazine suggests, cotton seed, when in the form of oil, can be used in shortening mixtures for the use of baking. The stability of cotton seed oil allows the shortening to keep its appropriate consistency during baking, making it a good choice for items such as cookie fillers and other non-dairy foods. Furthermore, cotton seed features attributes that make shortening mixtures more viable and useful than other shortening types without sacrificing taste.
Cancer Treatment
According to a recent report on the NBC Boston affiliate WHDH network website, medical professionals are suggesting that cotton seed supplements can be used for the treatment of some cancers. Dr. Young Lin from the Ohio State Cancer Center states that cotton seed contains the active ingredient gossypol, which can slow tumor growth in some cancers. Furthermore, Dr. Sam Kulp of the Ohio State Cancer Center adds that cotton seed treatments appear to have minimal side effects and are used in other countries, such as China for the treatment of multiple ailments. Further research needs to be conducted, however, to determine the consistency of these benefits, and cotton seed treatments should only be used under the guidance of a physician.
Member Comments