* Why Canola Oil is Healthiest *

A. Bit of knowledge about good and bad fatty acid
B. Bit of Knowledge about good and bad cholesterol
C. What is Relation Between Fatty Acid and Cholesterol


A.- Bit of knowledge about good and bad fatty acid

Fats and oils are made up of basic units called fatty acids. Fatty acids are the basic building blocks of fats, just as amino acids are the building blocks of protein.

Each type of fat or oil is a mixture of different fatty acids.

Types of Fatty Acids:

1- Saturated fatty acid
2- Monounsaturated fatty acid
3- Polyunsaturated fatty acid
4- Trans- fatty acid

1) Saturated Fatty Acids:
It is bad fatty acid and found mainly in animal sources such as fat in meats, milk fat and butter. Two vegetable oils coconut and palm oil, are also highly saturated. It is solid at room temperature.
Studies show an associated between increased intake of saturated fatty acids and increased LDL (bad) cholesterol. Increased blood cholesterol, in turn, has been associated with increased risk of heart disease.
Canola oil has the lowest level of saturated fat (7%) compared to all other oils on the market today.


2) Monounsaturated Fatty Acids:
It is good fatty acid and found mainly in vegetable oils such as Canola, Olive and Peanut oils. It is liquid at room temperature.
Studies indicate that monounsaturates fatty acid lower LDL
(bad) cholesterol levels.
Canola oil is high in monounsaturated fatty acid (61%)


3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids:
It is good fatty acid and found mainly in vegetable oils such as Canola, Corn and Sunflower oils. It is liquid at room temperature.
Studies indicate that polyunsaturated fatty acids have been associated with lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Canola oil contains moderate level (21%) of the polyunsaturated fatty acid.


In addition to above, there are other type of polyunsaturated fatty acid such as Alpha-Linolenic Acid (Omega-3 Fatty Acid).
This fatty acid. Cannot be produced by the body and therefore must be obtained in our diet. They are called essential fatty acids and are necessary for such functions as Cell-building and hormone-production. It is approved Alpha-Linolenic acid prevents blockage of arteries and lowering risk of heart attack.
Canola Oil contains highest level of Alpha-Linolenic acid (11%).

 

4) Trans- Fatty Acids:
It is bad fatty acid and occurs naturally in some animal products, such as butter and milk. It is found in some processed foods too when vegetable oils are processed into margarine's or shortening through hydrogenation. Hydrogenation is a process used in the production of some margarine's and shortenings. Research suggests trans-fatty acids have similar effects as saturated fatty acids on raising LDL
(bad) cholesterol levels in blood.


B.- Bit of knowledge about good and bad cholesterol
---------(all vegetable oil has no cholesterol)-------
Blood cholesterol made by liver and it is white waxy substance
needed in our body to produce hormones. Problem can arise if
the level of cholesterol in the blood is too high and begins
building up on the artery walls.

Good Cholesterol: High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) called good cholesterol. It will gathers up excess cholesterol in the blood and carries it back to the liver to be re processed or excreted.
It may also remove some of the cholesterol deposited
on artery walls.

Bad Cholesterol: Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) called bad cholesterol. It will build up on the inside of the arteries,
blocking the blood flow and increasing the risk of heart attacks.


C.- What is Relation between Fatty Acid and Cholesterol

It is scientifically approved that the saturated fat (bad fatty acid) increases level of LDL (bad cholesterol) in our blood. Therefore consumption of oil with less saturated fat will result lower level of
LDL in our blood.

Also it is approved that the unsaturated fat "mono/poly" will reduce level of LDL (bad cholesterol) in our blood. Therefore consumption of oil with more unsaturated fat will result lower level of LDL in our blood.

In composition of different fatty acids the best oil is the type
with lower percentage of saturated fat and higher percentage of unsaturated fat. The following chart is prepared by Canola Council of Canada showing saturated fat (bad fatty acid) in Canola Oil is lowest (7%) and unsaturated fat "mono & poly" (good fatty acid) is highest
in Canola Oil (93%).