Canola Oil Helps Reduce Belly Fat: Study

A latest study suggests that replacing selected oil blends with canola oil and high-oleic canola oil helps lower abdominal fat.

The study, conducted by a team of American and Canadian researchers, highlights the fact that consuming vegetable oil may be a simple method to lower the risk of metabolic syndrome.

According to Penny Kris-Etherton, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition, Penn State, the presence of monosaturated fats in vegetable oils reduces abdominal fat, thereby reducing the risk of metabolic syndrome.

In this study, 121 participants who were at a risk of metabolic syndrome had a smoothie everyday that consisted of 40 grams of one of the five oils in order to maintain weight, a healthy heart and have a 200-calorie intake per day diet.

The participants had five risk factors characterized by increased belly fat, low good hdl cholesterol and blood sugar of above average, blood pressure and triglycerides that elevates the risk of heart diseases, type 2 diabetes and stroke. The same procedure was repeated for the remaining four oils.

The researchers noticed that consumption of canola oil or high-oleic canola oil on a daily basis for four weeks reduced belly fat by 1.6 percent when compared to other oil blends. 

"Our study indicates that simple dietary changes, such as using vegetable oils high in monounsaturated fatty acids, may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome and therefore heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes," said Kris-Etherton in a press statement.

The details of the finding were presented at the American Heart Association's EPI/NPAM 2013 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans.