Adding Canola Oil in Your Daily Diet Could Help Trim Belly Fat

A new study from Pennsylvania State University revealed that adding canola oil in daily diet could help reduce excess fats in the abdomen in as little as four weeks.

The study, presented at The Obesity Society's Annual Scientific Meeting, showed that people who added canola oil in their daily diet for a month have about .11 kilograms, or quarter of a pound, reduction in their belly fats.

"Visceral, or abdominal, fat increases the risk for cardiovascular disease, and is also associated with increased risk for conditions such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes," said Penny Kris-Etherton, a professor of nutrition at Penn State, in a press release. "Monounsaturated fats in canola oil decrease this fat that has adverse health effects."

According to the report from New York Daily News, Canola oil is rich with monounsaturated fatty acids, which is known to have beneficial effects on bodty composition. Furthermore, Canola oil has been previously shown to help reduce the risk of death due to cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease and dementia.

For the study, the researchers recruited 101 participants with abdominal obesity, or increased wasit circumference. The researchers divided the participants into different groups with different treatment oil diet, either conventional canola, high-oleic acid canola, high-oleic acid canola with DHA, corn/safflower or flax/safflower.

The quantity of oil give to each participant was calculated based on their energy needs. The oils were given to participants by mixing it to a smoothie containing 100 grams of orange sherbet, 100 grams of non-fat milk and 100 grams of frozen unsweetened strawberries. The participants were given four-week break after each four-week diet period before starting the next diet period.

The researchers observed that the participants consuming conventional canola oil or high-oleic acid canola oil have experience about 11 kilograms of abdominal fats in just four weeks. However, the fat-trimming effects of the canola oil appear to be limited to the abdominal areas. The researchers did not find any evidence that the weight loss in the mid-section did not redistribute elsewhere in the body.

With their findings, the researchers recommend that use of canola oil. It can be used to sauté foods, as well as baking, salad dressings or eve mixing with your daily smoothies.