Research shows canola oil can improve glycemic control in people with type-2 diabetes. Canola Eat Well is working with the Canadian Diabetes Association to promote this health benefit.

Canola oil can help control blood sugar

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Canola oil’s versatility makes it a top choice in the kitchen. More and more however, its  health advantages have people reaching for canola oil in their cooking. And now, people with type-2 diabetes have even more reasons to choose this healthy oil, thanks to a study that showed eating canola oil could help control blood sugar.

The study, led by Dr. David Jenkins, a professor in the Departments of Nutritional Sciences and Medicine at the University of Toronto, and reported in Diabetes Care*, showed improved glycemic control (blood sugar levels) in participants with type-2 diabetes on a canola-oil enriched low-glycemic (GI) diet. The study also showed that adding canola oil to the diet lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canola Council of Canada, and SaskCanola, Alberta Canada and MCGA funded the study.

CDA Expos

Canola Eat Well has been working with registered dietitians Lynn Weaver and Lois Ferguson in Ontario in partnership with the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) at several learning expos to spread the word about these health returns.

The Canola Eat Well brand is a joint partnership with Alberta Canola, SaskCanola and Manitoba Canola Growers. Canola Eat Well works together with CanolaInfo on Canadian programming
and activities.

Located in Toronto, Ottawa, Kitchener and Brampton, the educational expos were jam-packed with exciting speakers, interactive exhibits and info sessions for individuals living with diabetes and those organizations supporting them.

At each expo, people stopped by the Canola Eat Well booth to hear about how canola oil could be helpful to them and learn more about its culinary uses and benefits.

“From a nutrition point of view, canola oil cannot be beat!” says Weaver.

During nutrition breaks, Canola Eat Well provided popcorn popped in 100-percent canola oil. The Toronto Popcorn Company prepared the popcorn following CDA guidelines for fat, salt and sugar. This was accompanied by a cooking demo showing the audience how to make flavoured popcorn at home with some great recipes from CanolaEatWell.com, including lime and chili pepper popcorn.

At the South Asian Expo in Brampton, Chef Siva Swaminathan taught attendees about ‘Whole Grains for South Asian Cooking’. Canola oil and its advantages were featured throughout the cooking demonstration and also in the luncheon based on this demo.

In the end, the expos were more than just a forum for learning, sharing and growing. They were also a source of inspiration and motivation, empowering people living with diabetes and offering them a chance to connect with health professionals and others who want to eat great food and live healthy lives. We at Canola Eat Well were happy and proud to be part of such a wonderful experience!

*Jenkins, D.J.A. et al. “Effect of Lowering the Glycemic Load With Canola Oil on Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” Diabetes Care 2014; 37:1806-14.