Rapeseed Oil (Canola Oil)


Characteristics

  • Common name for vegetable oil: Canola
  • Producer plant: Canola
  • Botanical name: Brassica napus L. var. napus, B. rapa (or B. campestris), B. juncea
  • Botanical family: Brassicaceae (formerly Cruciferae)
  • Origin (country where the vegetable oil is grown): France
  • Note: Canada produces its own oil from a variety of rape called canola oil, which is often refined.
  • Plant part: Seeds (contained in the fruit, called siliques)
  • Oxidative potential: Moderately sensitive

Organoleptic properties

Botanical and organoleptic characteristics may vary according to production conditions (country, sun, organic production, etc.).

  • Colour: pale yellow
  • Aroma: Discreet, reminiscent of the scent of the plant.
  • Texture: Semi-coarse
  • Taste: Strong and reminiscent of cabbage.

Fatty acid composition

The composition of vegetable oils is strongly influenced by the conditions under which they are produced.

In order to guarantee its quality, it is advisable to choose an extra virgin olive oil obtained by cold pressing, preferably of organic origin.

Monounsaturated fatty acids:

  • 61 to 63% oleic acid (omega 9)
  • 0.3% palmitoleic, &lt
  • 5% erucic acid (1,3-docenoic acid)

Polyunsaturated fatty acids:

  • 19% to 20% linoleic (omega 6)
  • 8 to 10% alpha-linolenic acid (omega 3)

Saturated fatty acids:

  • 7.5 to 8% palmitic and stearic acid

Other active ingredients:

  • Vitamins: E (alpha tocopherol), K
  • Other constituents: Triterpenes, sterols (including canolol)

Nutritional aspect

Vegetable rapeseed oil is one of the few edible oils that contains a good proportion of omega 3, 6 and 9 and vitamin E.

One teaspoon of rapeseed oil a day covers 30% of our needs.

Advantages

  • Helps build cell membranes
  • Helps reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels
  • Stimulates brain activity
  • Protects arterial walls
  • Prevents cardiovascular disease
  • Antioxidant
  • Reduces the risk of stroke
  • Limitation of postprandial glucose elevation
  • Prevention of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive impairment
  • Prevention of prostate cancer
  • Prevention of atherosclerosis and hardening of the arteries

Indications

  • Alzheimer's disease (prevention and lifestyle modification)
  • Arteriosclerosis (in prevention, in combination with adapted diet and medical follow-up)
  • Atherosclerosis (prevention, combined with dietary modification and medical follow-up)
  • Stroke (prevention)
  • Prostate cancer (prophylaxis, in combination with dietary modification and medical surveillance)
  • Cholesterol (prevention) 
  • Diabetes (in combination with dietary modification and medical monitoring)
  • Coronary heart disease (preventive)
  • Thrombosis (in prevention and to support medical follow-up)
  • Cardiovascular disease (prevention)
  • Cognitive disorders (prevention and lifestyle modification)
  • Skin ageing (prevention)

Precautionary measures

For domestic use, European regulations require an erucic acid content of less than 5%.

Exceeding this limit can lead to heart, digestive and liver risks.

The '00' variety contains none.

If oil from transgenic plants is free of erucic acid, we do not know the long-term risks of consuming products derived from this type of plant.

In addition, many rapeseed oils are subject to adulteration.

As a precaution, it is best to use cold-pressed, organically grown, extra virgin rapeseed oil.

Due to its high oxidising power, rapeseed oil cannot be heated.

It should be stored in the refrigerator (once started), away from air and light.