The Verdict on Vegetable Oil: Eat Up!

The war on oil doesn't have to do with natural resources.

The real oil predicament – at least in nutrition circles – is one that has to do with good fats, bad fats and how much oil is really OK to consume.

While vegetable oil made from canola, corn or soy has been said to possess heart-healthy properties that can reduce cholesterol levels, recently experts have been worried that we're eating too much of it.

Not so, reveals a new study from the University of Missouri.

Linoleic acid and health

An earlier animal study found that a diet rich in linoleic acid – a compound found in vegetable oils – increased inflammation. But the new MU study reveals that vegetable oil consumption isn't linked to inflammation indicators in humans.

"In the field of nutrition and health, animals aren't people," Kevin Fritsche, a MU professor of animal science and nutrition in the Division of Animal Sciences, said in a press release. "We're not saying that you should just go out and consume vegetable oil freely. However, our evidence does suggest that you can achieve a heart-healthy diet by using soybean, canola, corn and sunflower oils instead of animal-based fats when cooking."

As an omega-6 fatty acid, linoleic acid is an essential nutrient and, according to health experts, actually plays a role in helping the body prevent certain types of chronic disease – especially those that disrupt hormone balance or cause weight gain.

Fats are OK

After studying about 500 adults who consumed various types of fats, including vegetable oils, the researchers concluded that there was no evidence linking vegetable oils to inflammation. Based on this, they suggest following the current recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and the American Heart Association about using vegetable oil for cooking.

Between two and four tablespoons of vegetable oil a day will provide the amount of linoleic acid needed for heart health, the study concluded.

"We know that animal fats can encourage inflammation, but in this study, we've been able to rule out vegetable oil as a cause," Fritsche said.

Source: Science Daily

Get a Free Diabetes Meal Plan

Get a free 7-Day Diabetes Meal Plan from Constance Brown-Riggs who is a Registered Dietitian-Certified Diabetes Educator and who is also a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Just enter in your email below to download your free Diabetes Meal Plan.

By clicking Submit, you agree to send your info to BattleDiabetes.com who, in addition to 3rd party partners, may contact you with updates, products and information and we agree to use it according to our privacy policy and terms and conditions.

More Articles

More Articles

For decades people with type-1 and advanced type-2 diabetes relied on painful and often flawed insulin injections to regulate blood sugar...

Scientists have discovered that a single gene forms a common link between type 2 diabetes and...

Natural supplements like cinnamon extract and apple cider vinegar could hold the key to lowering blood sugar levels, according to a recent...

Natural supplements like cinnamon extract and apple cider vinegar could hold the key to lowering blood sugar levels, according to a recent...

Could a person's risk for type 2 diabetes be written in their genes?

According to a study recently published in ...

Women who frequently shift around their sleeping hours could have worse metabolic health outcomes than their peers who stick with a...

The presence of the hormone leptin may hinder prenatal development, which could explain the origin of type 2 diabetes, according to...

An analysis of fossilized Native American feces shows that our ancestors ate up to sixteen times the fiber that we do today, but our...

Managing diabetes is hugely challenging for people of any age, but a new study suggests that young people may suffer all the more....

Disruptions to the gut’s ecosystem could be a future symptom facing young children who take antibiotics, which makes them more susceptible...

Breastfeeding a newborn holds many benefits for mommy and baby; it reduces the baby's risk for colds and viruses, it helps his bones (and yours)...

Fans of the Dexcom G5 Mobile have something to smile about.

At yesterday's hearing with the U.S. Food and Drug...

If you start your day with a cup of tea and end it with a glass of red wine, your blood sugar may thank you.

At least that...

As medical experts continue to debate whether or not "healthy obesity" can even exist, one new study suggests that risk for heart disease...

For years, type 1 diabetics have been anxiously waiting for that medical marvel that can stop the constant injections: the artificial...