We’ve all seen those Internet claims that this or that new treatment will cut your belly fat in days or weeks. And I hope we all know they’re just hype and scams. But, now, researchers at Penn State University say they’ve discovered that Canola Oil can really conquer the dreaded ‘spare tire’…
Canola Oil, especially High-Oleic-Acid varieties, may be the answer to
reducing belly fat and reducing it quickly!
A treatment that could really reduce belly fat, and do it in a relatively short time, has been the Holy Grail of diet gurus the world over. And, until now, nothing that’s been put forward in that quest has proven to be the real deal. But, now, Penn State researchers say they’ve shown that a treatment regimen using Canola Oil or High-Oleic-Acid Canola Oil can reduce abdominal fat in as little as four weeks.
For the study, researchers chose overweight people with pronounced spare tires who were considered at risk of developing any of a number of diseases associated with overweight including obesity, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, low HDL (also known as good cholesterol) and excess body fat around the waist.
Researchers tested several monosaturated oils including Canola, High-Oleic-Acid Canola, a blend of Corn and Safflower Oil and a blend of Flax and Safflower Oil. All are high in monosaturates, but the Canola Oil, and the High-Oleic-Acid Canola produced the best results.
It’s about those Omega-3s again!
High-Oleic-Acid Canola is particularly rich in DHA, an Omega-3 Fatty Acid which has been recommended as part of a heart-healthy diet for a couple of decades, now. I’ve heard a lot of claims for it, as a dietary supplement and heart-health enhancer, but this is the first time a scientific study has shown that it can have a benefi8citial effect on excess body weight.
Dr. Penny M. Kris-Etherton, a Professor of Nutrition at Penn State, says furthermore, “As a general rule, you can’t target weight loss to specific body regions. But monounsaturated fatty acids seem to specifically target abdominal fat.”
How much Oil did they take?
Participants in the study were given smoothies twice a day. Each drink contained 30 ml or two tablespoons of the selected treatment Oil. That was a total of just 60 ml / four tablespoons / 1/4 cup. That wouldn’t be hard to take. So… Should we all run out and get a jug of Canola Oil and a big bottle of Omega-3 supplement capsules? Kris-Etherton says, maybe not. Further studies are needed to determine the long-tern effects of a diet high in monounsaturated and Omega-3 fatty acids before any dietary recommendations can be formulated.
But it’s good news for us folks with excess abdominal fat who hope to get back into their size-12 wardrobe sometime before they die!
~ Maggie J.