Trimming belly fat with canola

RESEARCH presented at the American Heart Association’s EPI/NPAM 2013 Scientific Sessions (New Orleans in March 2013), suggests that canola and high-oleic canola oils can lower abdominal fat when used as alternative to other oil blends. In a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial, 121 participants at risk for metabolic syndrome were given a weight-maintenance, heart-healthy diet with a daily smoothie containing one of five study oils.

Results suggested that consumption of canola or high-oleic canola oils on a daily basis for four weeks lowered their belly fat by 1.6%. Abdominal fat was unchanged by the other three oils, which included a flax/safflower oil blend, corn/safflower oil blend and high-oleic canola oil enriched with an algal source of the omega-3 DHA. Both the flax/safflower and corn/safflower oil blends were low in monounsaturated fat. However, further studies are needed to determine the effects.