Canola oil is now eligible to bear the qualified health claim that it may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease because of its low level of saturated fat. Specifically, consuming 19 grams of canola oil a day—about 1 1/2 tablespoons—could lower the risk of heart disease, so long as canola oil replaces an equivalent amount of saturated fat and doesn’t increase total calories.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the qualified health claim means that there is "supportive but not conclusive research" to support the statement. Foods containing canola oil may also make the heart-healthy claim if canola oil is the primary ingredient, or if the food contains no less than 4.75 grams of canola oil per "reference amount customarily consumed" (loosely, a serving size), no more than 1 gram of trans fat and is also low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Canola oil contains just 1 gram of saturated fat per tablespoon, which is 7 percent of its fatty-acid make-up—monounsaturated fats comprise 62 percent and polyunsaturated fats 31 percent.

More on Oils and Fats

• Do Cooking Oils Contain Saturated Fat?
• What are the Main Sources of Saturated Fat?
• Is Extra-Light Olive Oil a Low-Fat Cooking Oil?
• What is Enova Oil?
• Good Fats, Bad Fats
• Quiz on Fats and Saturated Fats
• What are Trans Fats?
• Is Canola Oil Hazardous to Your Health? from About's Guide to Urban Legends and Folklore

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