Refined Canola Oil

Canola oil, or rapeseed oil as it is more commonly known in Europe, is a type of vegetable oil that comes from the rape plant (Brassica napus). Canola’s name is shorthand for “Canadian Oil Low Acid,” and Canada is a major producer of rapeseed. In fact, canola oil was invented by Canadian scientists in the 1970s and was the product of plant breeding to make a version of the rapeseed plant that wasn’t toxic to humans.1

The now common kitchen pantry oil is a great oil for cooking, as it has a high smoke point at 400°F. It has a mild taste, which makes it a good oil to use if you don’t want to alter the taste of your dish. Canola is also considered a healthy oil, since it is very low in saturated fat, has zero grams of trans fat per serving, and is higher in monounsaturated fat which is great for heart health.2 Saturated fat is known to raise cholesterol levels, whereas monounsaturated fat can improve cholesterol levels and help in the prevention of heart disease—which makes this oil the best of both worlds.3