Fun Fact Today..!! Canola Oil Cooking Benefits: Health experts say you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease -- the leading cause of death in the United States -- by changing your diet, particularly by lowering your intake of saturated fats (which can raise artery-clogging cholesterol levels) and by increasing your intake of healthier unsaturated fats and essential fatty acids. Healthy Fats One way to reshape your diet is by choosing heart-healthy oils. Canola oil, which is made from the crushed seeds of the canola plant, is among the healthiest of cooking oils. It has the lowest saturated fat content of any oil commonly consumed in the U.S., at just 7%. By comparison, sunflower oil has 12% saturated fat, corn oil has 13%, and olive oil has 15%. Although its low in saturated fat, canola oil is very high in healthy unsaturated fats. Its an excellent source of the omega-6 fatty acid, linolenic acid, and it is higher in the omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) than any other oil except flaxseed oil. These fats are particularly important in the diet because the human body cant produce them. Health Benefits of Canola Oil Studies show that alpha-linolenic acid, or ALA, may help protect the heart by its effect on blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation. There is enough evidence of canola oils heart benefits that the FDA allows canola oil manufacturers to label their products with this qualified health claim: Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about 1 1/2 tablespoons (19 grams) of canola oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the unsaturated fat content in canola oil. To achieve this possible benefit, canola oil is to [sic] replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day. One serving of this product contains [x] grams of canola oil. Substituting canola oil for other fats in your diet is an easy way to help you eat healthier. Switching to only canola-based products could reduce your saturated fat intake by almost 10%, and increase your ALA intake by nearly 73%, shows the study, published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. Debunking Canola Oil Myths Stories have been circulating on the Internet claiming that canola oil is made from the rapeseed plant, and contains substances that are toxic to humans. The rumor claims that these toxins can lead to ailments ranging from respiratory distress to blindness in humans. Canola is often confused with rapeseed. The rapeseed plant contains high levels of erucic acid, a substance that in large quantities can be toxic to humans. However, canola is produced from the canola plant, which contains levels of erucic acid well below the FDAs standards. Cooking With Canola Oil Because of its light flavor, high smoke point, and smooth texture, canola oil is one of the most versatile cooking oils. You can use it in a number of dishes and cooking methods.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 15:15:18 +0000
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