For your information, the origin of rape (the plant from which the oil is extracted) is not still quite clear for scientists. Canola is a member of the family Brassicaceae (mustard or cabbage family) and is considered a useful plant because a few decades ago people started to use it for biofuel production. It is impossible to find rape in the wild nature, but it is cultivated for about 6,000 years.
Genetics suggest that rape ‘parents’ are kale and coleseed. However, it is already known that coleseed seeds are used for oil extraction which in its turn is used for soap, lubricants and fluids production. Some specialists believe that coleseed is a subspecies of canola, and many sources describe them as one and the same plant that creates so much confusion in this issue.
Where did the canola appear is not precisely known too: in the Mediterranean, in Europe, America or Asia.
Now, the reasons you’re reading this is to find out whether you should or should not substitute canola oil for vegetable oil. Well, many experts believe that canola oil is not less and even more useful than olive one, despite the fact that nowadays it is the most popular and recommended for use.
By the way, if you’ve never tried canola oil, here’s some heads up to you: it has a taste which is similar to olive oil ones and their nutritional properties are almost the same. In some countries, rape is even called the ‘northern olive-tree’, although it is not even a tree.
Useful properties of canola oil
Due to the fact that canola oil contains a great number of unsaturated fatty acids, it is frequently recommended by experts to include this oil to the nutrition of patients with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and circulatory system. Regular use of this oil prevents the formation of thrombi.
Canola oil has a positive effect on the metabolism, which means it’s the best oil if you are trying to lose weight. It also accelerates regeneration processes in cells and promotes weight loss, as it reduces the amount of harmful cholesterol in blood. Oil that has elapsed special purification comprises more different fatty acids, and thus is more useful than the expensive extra virgin olive oil.
Today, canola oil has become frequently used in a variety of healthy diets, replacing other vegetable oils, the quality of which is lower and assimilation is more difficult. The number of essential fatty acids, which play an important role in the body, is bigger than in olive oil: these agents are necessary for cell membranes and possess strong antioxidant effect. Moreover, it’s particularly good for you because this provides the synthesis of prostaglandins in the body that perform many important functions, including the neurotransmitters ones.
For those of you seeking cosmetic and dermatology benefits of canola oil, this oil moisturizes, softens, nourishes and regenerates the skin and therefore it is often used in dermatology and cosmetology. Sterile oil is used in pharmacology for oil solutions and injections preparation.
The demand for canola oil has increased because its quality has changed: now it has improved, and production also began to grow. Nowadays, the canola oil production is much larger than palm and soy one, which is funny if you think about how many soy products you see these days.
In many countries, this high-quality oil is used for the production of margarine, for frying and is added to salads. It remains clear longer than many other vegetable oils, and does not deteriorate under the influence of the open air.
The properties of canola oil are very beneficial for women. It turns out that this oil may help to prevent breast cancer, since a medical research has proven that it contains the plant analogue of the female sex hormone estradiol. It is considered the main hormone of women’s health because it is responsible for the body’s ability to conceive, and this function is the most important.
A few years ago, U.S. scientists conducted a survey in the city of San Francisco and it was found that among women who used canola and olive oil while cooking the risk of breast cancer was lower than among those who chose canola oil.
Now, let us compare the vegetable oil by the content of monounsaturated fatty acids required for normal heart function, in the first place will go to olive oil, the second to canola oil, the third to the sunflower oil.
How to choose canola oil
So, if we got you hooked on canola oil, you must learn how to choose it. First of all, look at the label: it should contain the number of erucic acid content – 0.3-0.6% is considered optimal to get most of the benefits from consuming it. Also, the label may indicate that the oil is hydrogenated – if it is, it is not worth buying.
The smell of the oil should be pleasant and its color should be light yellow or just be of yellow tint, and a bottle should not contain any sediment – it means that the oil is oxidized and rancid. At home canola oil must be stored in a cool dark place. Otherwise, it becomes turbid and oxidized, and if you don’t know what that means – just trust us, it’s no good! The presence of sediment in the bottle often means the improper storage.
Although it is said that canola oil can be used for frying, it is better not to do it. While heating it the dangerous compounds are forming, and at a temperature of 160-170 ° C toxins appear. Inhalation of smoke that appears over a frying pan can increase the chance of lung cancer development.
The use of canola oil
The best way to use canola oil is to use it in its raw form, for example, to dress salads with it. A good salad is carrot one (500 g of carrots) with dried apricots and prunes (100 g of both). Grate on a fine grater the washed and sliced carrots, finely chop the pre-prepared dried fruit – they must be washed, poured with boiling water and then wait until they cool down. Mix them with carrots, pour canola oil (50 ml), salt, and add fresh lemon juice, cumin or fennel seeds. Then mix the salad again.
If you are a cosmetology enthusiast, canola oil can be used in home made cosmetics – a bath with this oil softens the skin and makes it gentle. To prepare the bath you need milk (1 cup), sea salt (¼ cup) baking soda (1 tbsp) cornstarch (1 tsp) canola oil (2 tbsp), lavender essential oil (2-3 drops), a handful of dried lavender flowers, and CO2-extracts of linden (½ tsp) (this drug is used in cosmetics as anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and soothing component). Everything should be thoroughly mixed and poured into the tub with warm water. Take a bath for 15-20 minutes.
Canola oil is contraindicated for people with diarrhea, acute exacerbations of chronic hepatitis and gallstones, as well as for those who are hypersensitive to its components.
Can canola oil replace familiar oils as sunflower, olive and corn?
- Why? What special properties does canola oil possess?
Edible canola oil – is a balanced combination of essential saturated fatty acids, a large amount of vitamins A, B and E, linolenic acid, phosphorus, zinc, copper, magnesium, calcium, and other elements essential for the development of a healthy organism. - Is the canola oil useful? Can it replace the so-popular sunflower, olive and corn oils?
In science, canola oil has been named as ‘Northern Olive-tree’ for the fact that the compositions of these products are quite similar. The main useful feature of canola oil is the presence of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids that can reduce blood cholesterol and protect the heart from heart attack and stroke. This property distinguishes the canola oil from sunflower one, since the latter does not contain such acids at all. And that, my friends, is not a good thing.
The important fact for those who cook is that canola oil, the chemical composition of which is so rich in vitamins, has a pleasant nutty flavor and taste that are similar to peanuts. So it is often used in restaurants as an addition to salads and grilled dishes. Furthermore, the use of this oil lies in its ability to keep the initial color and the transparency, which facilitate its storage. The calorie count of canola oil is 899 calories per 100 grams of product that is identical to the calorie count of olive and sunflower oils.
By the way, the Canadians cultivated a subspecies of rape, the so-called ‘Canola’, in which the seeds do not practically contain any harmful substances. Canola oil can be used with little or no refining, allowing you to enjoy its wonderful taste and aroma to the fullest.
In comparison with other products canola oil is the champion in terms of oleic acid content. It is recommended for medical and dietetic foods, as it promotes the elimination harmful plasmic cholesterol from the human body. Linoleic acid that is contained in a large amount is indispensable for the prevention and treatment of infarction, arrhythmias, stroke, coronary heart disease and other cardiovascular disorders.
What are the uses of canola oil?
Here are some good news for you fellas: latest scientific studies have proven that regular consumption of canola oil strengthens the walls of blood vessels and reduce blood cholesterol levels. Also the substances that are rich in canola oil, prevent the risk of thrombosis, including cancer. Canola oil prevents vasoconstriction and circulatory problems that are the main causes of stroke and myocardial infarction. French physicians recommend it for atherosclerosis treatment.
Health & Beauty
You probably know that it is easier to prevent disease than to treat it. This is especially relevant for cancer.
A survey in San Francisco has found that among women who cook dishes with canola oil the risk of breast cancer is much lower than among those who use other types of oils and fats.
Modern ecology makes women very carefully look after their appearances. They have to purchase expensive means for skin care, anti-aging masks, creams, spend time on SPA-treatments and other. Researches of the Polish Academy of Sciences revealed that due to a high content of antioxidants and unsaturated fatty acids Omega-3 and Omega-6, canola oil not only helps to prevent cancer, diabetes and heart diseases, but also slows down the aging process.
High content of provitamin A accelerates the regeneration of tissues that in its turn leads to the color improvement and general condition of skin, hair and nails. As a result, you get all the benefits that you would get by going to a beauty salon around the corner.
Due to its assimilability, canola oil is recommended by nutritionists for use in a variety of healthy diets instead of other vegetable oils.
What is the difference between canola oil and other oils?3
There are a lot of unsaturated fatty acids in canola oil, which reduce cholesterol and maintain the health of the cardiovascular system, the mobility of joints and brain function. The high ratio of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids (2: 1) prevents the growth of cancer cells and positively influences the immune system and protective functions. Keep in mind that it is necessary to use canola oil instead of animal fat since it is the only way to get the desirable effect.
What is cheaper?
Useful properties similar taste and allow canola oil to compete with and exceed extra virgin olive oil. If we talk about availability, it is much cheaper than olive oil by more than 5 times!
Why should you pay more if the benefits of olive oil, sunflower oil and canola oil are pretty much the same? That’s the question you’ll have to ask yourself next time you’re shopping for oil.
Conclusion
Canola oil is becoming indispensable for the consumers who care about their health. So if you are one of them, canola oil is a must! Make sure you choose the right one, as described above.
Apart from these useful properties, it has a number of consumer benefits. For example, canola oil preserves its transparency and does not acquire an unpleasant smell on the open air. Canola oil is used to make hot and cold dishes, marinades, mayonnaise and other sauces. In addition to cooking, it is successfully used in dermatology and cosmetology.
Canola oil strengthens the walls of blood vessels and reduce blood cholesterol levels, treats atherosclerosis, reduces the risk of breast cancer as well as prevents diabetes and heart diseases.
Therefore, if you are choosing between olive oil, sunflower oil or canola oil, we’d recommend to opt for the latter. The price is right, the benefits are all in there and its taste is delicious. You can find tons of various recipes with this type of oil on the Internet.
