September 8, 2005

North Dakota Oil Crops Good for Your Health

Oil crops grown in North Dakota can help Americans reduce their risk of developing chronic diseases, according to a North Dakota State University nutrition expert.

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans makes specific recommendations on including healthy oils in people’s diets every day to help lower the chances of developing heart disease, cancer and diabetes. For instance, the guidelines suggest people on a 2,000-calorie diet consume 6 teaspoons of oil daily.

“Many of the healthy oils suggested are produced in North Dakota,” says Jane Edwards, an NDSU Extension Service nutrition and health specialist. “North Dakota leads the nation in production of flaxseed, canola and sunflower seed.”

Oils usually contain all three types of fatty acids – saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated. Consuming some fats is essential because the body cannot make the polyunsaturated fats primarily found in plant and fish oils. These fats have vital roles in the body, so people must supply the fats in what they consume.

The essential polyunsaturated fats are found in cell membranes and play a role in communication across the membranes. They also can be converted to biologically active substances. Both may help prevent chronic disease. The polyunsaturated fats are critical in the development of the central nervous system as well.

Polyunsaturated fats include omega-6 and omega-3 types, both of which are beneficial. Oils from corn, soybeans and sunflowers are good sources of omega-6 fat. Oils from canola, flaxseed and soybeans are good sources of omega-3 fat. Monounsaturated fat, which also is beneficial to people’s health, is found in canola and olive oil.

Edwards says eating a healthy diet is important because about 62 percent of North Dakota adults are obese or overweight. The state has the fifth highest percentage of obese or overweight adults in the nation.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in North Dakota. About 25 percent of adults report elevated blood pressure and 30 percent report elevated blood cholesterol. Both increase the risk for heart disease.

Cancer is the second leading cause of death. Diabetes prevalence has increased 72 percent from 1994 (3.6 percent) to 2003 (6.2 percent).

Healthy oils can help reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases in the following areas:

• Healthy weight – Eating the right type of fat and in the right amount is important because fat provides more than twice as many calories per unit weight (9 calories per gram) than either carbohydrate or protein (4 calories per gram). High fat intake may contribute to weight gain if it provides more calories than a person can offset with physical activity.
• Heart health - Monounsaturated fat (61 percent of canola oil) and omega-6 polyunsaturated fat (71 percent of sunflower oil, 57 percent of corn oil and 54 percent of soybean oil) have been found to help maintain healthy blood cholesterol, a primary risk factor for heart disease. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fat (58 percent of flaxseed oil, 11 percent of canola oil, 8 percent of soybean oil and 35 percent of fish oil) contributes to overall heart health.
• Cancer prevention - Both monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat in a healthy diet pattern have been found to reduce the risk for many types of cancer. A balanced polyunsaturated fat ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 appears to reduce cancer risk. Higher intakes of total fat and saturated fat may increase the risk for some types of cancer.
• Insulin sensitivity and diabetes - Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (found in various percentages from canola, corn, flaxseed, nut, soybean, sunflower and fish oils) have been found to improve insulin sensitivity when eaten in an overall balanced diet. Saturated fats (found in animal and tropical oils), as well as trans fat (found in hydrogenated oils and fats/oils used for deep-fat frying), have been found to reduce insulin sensitivity. A progressive decline in the level of insulin sensitivity occurs during the development of type 2 diabetes.

For more information or educational materials on this topic, check with your county Extension Service office or visit the NDSU Extension Service Web site, www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/ag2health.htm.

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Source: Jane Edwards, (701) 231-7478, jedwards@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Ellen Crawford, (701) 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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