How Good is Canola Oil for You?

Canola oil has been called both the “world’s healthiest cooking oil” and a “poison.” Obviously there is much misunderstanding and misinformation. The oil comes from a specially bred variety of rapeseed, a yellow-flowering plant in the Brassicaceae (cabbage) family, developed by Canadian scientists in the 1970s. Its name is a contraction of Canadian and ola (meaning oil).

Canola oil is one of the best oils for heart health. It has less saturated fat than any other oil commonly used in the U.S. Check out the numbers: Canola oil has 7% saturated fat, compared to 9% for sunflower oil, 13% for corn oil, and 14% for olive oil.

Is canola oil “toxic,” as many people warn?

No. The confusion involves erucic acid, a substance in traditional rapeseed that has been linked with structural changes in heart tissues and other problems in animals. But our canola has been specifically bred to eliminate erucic acid since 1995.

Canola is a wonderfully balanced and nutritionally significant oil containing a healthy ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 essential fatty acids. Canola oil has a unique fatty acid profile very similar to extra virgin olive oil.

Based on the fact that this oil has half the amount of saturated fat found in olive oil, it has the best fatty acid profile of any edible oil. Very low levels of saturated fats and a high level of monounsaturated fats make this expeller pressed oil a staple for every health-conscious chef or home cook.

Cutting down on saturated fats helps cut your cholesterol levels.

Canola oil is also very high in healthier unsaturated fats. It’s higher in the omega-3 fatty acid alpha- linolenic acid (ALA) than any other oil except flaxseed oil. ALA is particularly important to have in your diet because your body can’t make it.

Studies show that ALA may help protect the heart through its effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation. The FDA allows canola oil makers to label their products with a qualified health claim that there is “limited and not conclusive” scientific evidence that switching out saturated fat for the same amount of canola oil may reduce risk of heart disease.

Cold- and expeller-pressed oils do not involve the use of chemical solvents and, because they undergo less processing, tend to be higher in nutrients and antioxidants. (Unrefined not bleached or deodorized.)

MPS Farming does not use any chemicals on our Non GMO Canola Fields, to include harvest aids. We let the fields ripen naturally, then it is harvested, cleaned gently with air, and then it is Expeller pressed, then filtered using nothing but 100% pure Diatomaceous Earth (DE). We do not refine, bleach or deodorize (RBD) our oil. It still has the wonderful color and smell that comes naturally from the seed.

Food grade diatomaceous earth (DE) is a gentle abrasive that’s also highly absorbent, and it’s almost entirely made of silica – an important component of human ligaments, cartilage, and musculature. Diatomaceous earth is an amazing dietary supplement because it (1) helps move things out of your intestines and (2) helps promote healthier hair, skin, bones, and joints.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA) the smoke point for Canola Oil is 400. And there is nothing wrong with deep frying as long as you fry. in an unsaturated oil.