What is Rice Bran Oil? – Benefits, Nutrition

The oil extracted from rice bran is conveniently called rice bran oil. It is famously used as a conventional cooking oil in most countries of Asia, including China, India, and Japan.

There are a lot of health benefits associated with usage of rice bran oil as cooking oil.

Before moving forward, we would like to explain what is rice bran.

What is Rice Bran?

Rice Bran is nothing but a byproduct of rice milling. This means it is present everywhere in the world, but unfortunately, the byproduct is commonly seen as a waste or animal fodder until the recent past, at least.

In the recent past, the popularity of rice bran has been booming all over the world and especially in the American countries. The gain in popularity is mainly because of the discovery and enlightenment of several shocking yet impressive rice bran oil benefits for hair, skin, and otherwise.

Enough of the fundamentals, now let’s move on to the main topic on hand, the various health benefits of using rice bran oil as cooking oil.

Also Read: What is Wheat Bran? – Benefits, Nutrition, Downsides

Rice Bran Oil Benefits

1. Rice Bran Oil for Skin

There is a large variety of benefits of rice bran oil for skin. Rice bran is rich in antioxidants that play a huge role in maintaining skin health.

As per a study conducted over 28-days, it was found that people who used cream and gel containing the rice ban oil two times a day saw a major improvement in skin elasticity, roughness, and thickness.

We do agree, more human research and studies are required over the usage of rice bran oil for skin. However, despite the apparent lack of scientific evidence, various moisturizers and products containing rice bran extracts are marketed for people seeking to improve their skin health.  

2. Rich in essential nutrients

There are a lot of essential fats and other nutrients present in Rice bran oil. One tablespoon (14 ml) of rice bran oil would contain 14 grams of fat and 120 counts of calories.

Most nontropical vegetable oils like olive and canola oil are rich in higher properties of unsaturated fat than saturated fat. Rice Bran Oil is no different. 

Moreover, it also packs 29% of the DV for vitamin E. This vitamin is fat-soluble and is involved in increasing blood vessel and immune function health.

Other scientifically beneficial components that rice bran oil contains are plant sterols, oryzanol, and tocotrienols.

3.  Has Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

Out of the various nutritional components of rice bran oil mentioned above, some are proven to have strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

One such compound is oryzanol. It has been scientifically shown to suppress various enzymes that are responsible for promoting inflammation.

The components of rice bran oil, including oryzanol, are more likely to counter inflammation in your heart membrane and blood vessels. Inflammation in these areas requires medical attention as it can trigger atherosclerosis – narrowing and hardening of heart arteries that can ultimately lead to heart disease.

As a per study conducted over 4 weeks, 59 people who were suffering from hyperlipidemia, consumed either couple tablespoons (30 ml) of soybean oil or rice bran oil.

Towards the end, it was concluded that people who consumed rice bran oil saw their antioxidant capacity increase comparatively higher, which can be the key to combating oxidative stress.

Pro Tip: In order to double on almost all of these benefits, you can alternate the consumption of rice barn oil with Almond oil.

4. Maintenance of healthy blood sugar levels

Insulin resistance is one of the major factors that lead to the development of type 2 diabetes. The compounds present in rice bran oil may be effective in improving insulin resistance, which, in turn, leads to healthy blood sugar levels.

Insulin in our body is responsible for moving sugar into our body cells, which lowers blood sugar. However, due to various reasons, our body can develop insulin resistance, which hampers insulin functioning.

In a test-tube study conducted on rats, it was found that rice bran oil reduces insulin resistance in the body by neutralizing free radicals. These free radicals are responsible for oxidative stress.

5.  Better Heart Health

The Japanese government has recognized the oil as a health food due to its various cholesterol-lowering effects.

Moreover, early mice studies also suggest that rice bran oil lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol rather significantly while consequently enhancing HDL (good) cholesterol.

There have been few human studies that reflect the said benefits.

As per a study conducted over 4 weeks, it was found that when people suffering from hyperlipidemia were offered a low-calorie diet with 30 ml (2 tbsp.) of rice bran oil every day for 4 weeks, their LDL (bad) cholesterol and other heart diseases factors like hip circumference and body weight were considerable declined.        

These benefits are largely the outcomes of plant sterols present in the rice bran oil.

6. May Combat Cancer

Rice bran oil contains a group of antioxidants called tocotrienols that are known to have anticancer effects on our bodies.

There have several animal and test-tube and animal studies that prove that tocotrienols are effective in suppression of the growth of several cancer cells, including those of the brain, liver, ovary, breast, and pancreas.

Further studies suggest that the anticancer effects of tocotrienols are enhanced when coupled with chemotherapy or certain other anticancer drugs. However, caution must be exercised while combing the tocotrienols with medical drugs for cancer as there have been mixed results regarding the matter.

As mentioned above, all of these studies are legit but more human studies are required before we start claiming Rice bran oil, the cure of cancer.

7. May fight bad breath

Oil pulling is a traditional process of using oil as mouthwash and swishing it around your mouth to achieve better oral health.

A study conducted that included 30 pregnant women found that oil pulling using rice bran oil significantly reduced bad breath. As per researchers, the antioxidant properties of rice bran oil are likely to be responsible for this benefit.

8. Strengthen Immune System

The immune response is our body’s primary line of defense against viruses, bacteria, and several other disease-bearing organisms. Rice bran oil may enhance your immune response.

9. Rice Bran Oil For Better Hair

Another major benefit of rice bran oil includes its effectiveness in enhancing hair health.

It is rich in fatty omega 3 and 6 acids, which nourishes your hair by making your hair thick and conveniently manageable. It is recommended to use rice bran oil before hair wash to achieve a maximum advantage.

Conclusion

Despite not being extensively common in the west, there are a lot of benefits of rice bran oil that can sway you into using the oil as your common cooking oil.

It is also very versatile as it can be used for both baking and frying as unlike canola and olive oils, the taste if rice bran oil would not overpower that of the dishes.

We hope that you are now mindful of everything you desired to know about Rice bran oil.

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