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Fitting Oil Into a Healthy Lifestyle

Fats and oils have gotten a bad rap over the years, but there is a role for them in the diet. In fact, the type of fat or oil you choose can make a big difference in your healthy eating plan.

I remember attending a food and nutrition conference a few years ago where I sampled a new cooking oil - diglyceride-rich or diacylglycerol (DAG). The makers of DAG oil claimed that it helped with weight loss and decreased triglyceride levels. I remained skeptical, though, because I wasn't sure about the mechanism behind the claims or the difference between this and other similar products on the market.

Now, several years later, the research is recognizing the potential health benefits of DAG cooking and salad oil.

We are used to seeing triglyceride-based (TAG) oils like corn, canola, soy, vegetable, and olive oils on grocery store shelves. The new DAG oil is derived from a combination of soy and canola oil and has a different chemical structure from TAG oils. While both types of oil are digested the same way, the body metabolizes DAG oil differently, promoting greater breakdown by the liver. The result is that the body stores less of the oil as fat.

Clinical studies of DAG oil demonstrated that consumers can lower body weight, abdominal fat, and triglyceride levels when it is used as part of a healthy eating plan.

It is important to understand that DAG oil is not a fat substitute and contains the same number of calories and fat as traditional TAG oils. But this new type of oil can be used to replace more traditional oils in your favorite recipes and doesn't change the taste or texture of foods.

DAG oil is also lower in saturated fat than traditional oils, contains no trans fats, and has polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats as its main fat source. But always remember that limiting fats and using items like DAG oil will only help when they are incorporated into a healthy diet and lifestyle.