Canola oil reduces fat

In a new study, canola oil has been shown to reduce abdominal fat. A known risk factor for cardiovascular disease abdominal fat is also associated with increased risk for metabolic syndrome; canola oil is high in monounsaturated fat which is known to decrease abdominal fat. The researchers had participants adhere to using canola oil in their diets, and found that fat was not just redistributed in the body, but lost all together. Normally it is difficult to focus weight loss on particular areas, however monounsaturated fat seems to target abdominal fat, the mechanism for which is not yet fully understood.

The researchers tested the effect of canola oil in 101 participants over a period of four weeks. A range of different diet types were compared across all individuals. Canola oil was incorporated into the test diets so as to not exceed the participants’ daily needs. The researchers point out that further studies should be conducted in order to examine the long term effects of a diet high in monounsaturated fats, whose source could indeed be canola oil.