Is rapeseed oil healthy?

Rapeseed oil is a seed oil, like sunflower or corn oil.

It comes from the seeds of a plant from the mustard/cabbage family.

Its flowers are bright yellow and turn fields into a sea of gold when in bloom.

It is low in saturated fat, the fat that can raise cholesterol levels.

In fact, it has the lowest amount of saturated fat of any oil. It has just half the amount found in olive oil.

Rapeseed oil is also high in healthy unsaturated fats, the type that help lower cholesterol.

It has the second highest level of monounsaturated fats after olive oil. And it has the best balance of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fats of all plant oils.

It is grown in the UK and comes in refined and unrefined (often labelled as ‘cold-pressed’) forms.

Refined rapeseed oil has a higher smoke point, so does not lose healthy nutrients when used at high temperatures. This makes it suitable for cooking.

Look on the labels of regular ‘vegetable oil’ and you’ll often find it’s 100 per cent rapeseed oil, so this can be a healthy, cheap option.

Save the more expensive, flavourful cold-pressed varieties for drizzling on salads.

There were concerns in the past about rapeseed oil containing erucic acid, but modern rapeseed oils are almost completely free of it and are safe to use.

Early research also suggested that high intakes of omega-6 could increase inflammation.

However, recent studies show rapeseed’s unique combination of omega-3 and omega-6 is linked to a lower risk of heart and circulatory diseases.

While rapeseed oil can be a healthy addition to your diet, like all oils, it is high in calories, so use it sparingly.

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