Soybean oil is extracted from soybean seeds ( Glycine max ), dried lightly and processed using chemical substances. Rich in fatty acids, such as linoleic and alpha linoeic acids, it is useful for controlling blood cholesterol levels.
Widespread for millennia in the East, particularly in China, nowadays even the United States is a major producer. Soybean oil is also used in nutrition, for the production of margarine and industrial seasonings, and in cosmetics, to combat stretch marks.