Rapeseed oil is a popular cooking and baking ingredient, but some social media users question the product's benefits.. Canola oil has a wide range of health benefits, experts told USA TODAY, MedicalXpress reports..

Rapeseed oil is non-toxic and has many health benefits, Ellen Liskov, registered dietitian at Yale University, told USA TODAY..

First, canola oil contains the least amount of saturated fat compared to other cooking oils and is high in monounsaturated fats, which lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, Liskov said.. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, LDL cholesterol is a buildup of plaque in blood vessels that can increase the risk of a heart attack..

Second, rapeseed oil is a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, Guy Crosby, Associate Professor of Nutrition at Harvard University, USA TODAY, said via email.. According to the Mayo Clinic, omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory substances that reduce the risk of heart failure and stroke..

Rapeseed oil is also a good source of vitamins.. A 2013 literature review found that, compared to other sources of dietary fat, canola oil increased levels of vitamin E, which has antioxidant properties and protects against free radicals—atoms that cause cell damage in the body..

Angela Dunsby, spokeswoman for the American Canola Association, told USA TODAY via email that canola oil also contains vitamin K, which helps maintain normal blood flow..

“However, eating too much of any food, and canola oil is no exception, has its drawbacks,” Crosby said.. – Canola oil oxidizes easily, a process that occurs when healthy compounds in the oil break down through chemical reactions, according to the New Zealand Plant and Food Research Institute.. Only in the case of using a large amount of oil in deep fryers can it become a problem for human health”.

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