The demand for Canola Oil has increased in recent years, and with all the different brands
and variants out in the market, it’s easy to get lost in the wave. So what is Canola Oil?

Here’s the lowdown. CANadian Oil LowAcid, or Canola, is extracted from the
seeds of Canola, the result of crossbreeding low acid Rapeseed plant species.

Canola and Rapeseed come from the same family, but Rapeseed is cheaper in cost
compared to Canola. Because of this, and the fact that both oils have relatively the same
benefits, some may pass off Rapeseed Oil as Canola Oil. And you wouldn’t even know
which is which. But in reality, there are differences between the two.

Rapeseed is a plant that is abundantly found in Europe and Canada.
It’s high in harmful Erucic Acid, which can cause organ and heart muscle tissue damage,
which can lead to emphysema, respiratory distress and even anemia. Because of this
toxic component, plant breeding programs in Canada were initiated to produce variants that
minimize the Erucic Acid. Eventually, the variant with reduced Erucic Acid became Canola,
and has since been accredited by the USDA as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS).

Traditional plant cross-breeding means that Canola is not a
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). GMO, by the very
term, pertains to altering the DNA structure of an organism
in a way that does not occur naturally. Crossbreeding,
on the other hand, is similar to the process of breeding
animals with a different breed, species or variety2.
In crossbreeding, the DNA structure of the organism,
in this case the Canola plant, is not deliberately manipulated.
Crossbreeding can be compared to a marriage,
while GMO is like creating Frankenstein.
And you wouldn’t even know the long term effects of the latter.

Non-GMO Canola Oil comes loaded with benefits,
which are as follows:

• Lowest in long-chained Saturated Fats. Too much Saturated Fat
  in the body increases the rate of LDL cholesterol production,
  so the lesser the long-chained Saturated fats in your body, the better.
• High levels of Polyunsaturated Fats like Omegas 3 and 6.
  These are Essential Fatty Acid (EFA) that your body cannot produce on its own,
  which is why you can get it from food like fish, certain vegetables and oils.
  It reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke, helps your body build healthy cells
  and maintain brain and nerve functions.