How Safflower Oil Reduces Belly Fat

Obesity has become a phenomenal problem in the US. Various diseases and disorders originate from the problem of obesity. Fortunately, people are looking for solutions to cope with this problem. Dietary changes and exercises are by far the most natural methods of losing weight.

People are looking for healthier substitutes for fatty, junk foods. Incorporating some healthy substitutes for your cooking ingredients can also help in weight loss. Nowadays, safflower oil is commonly used as a cooking oil due to its several health benefits. The most notable health benefit of safflower oil is reduction of belly fat.

Unsightly belly fat is a major concern among men and women alike. It is mostly seen in post-menopausal women and middle-aged men. There are various reasons why fat builds up around the stomach. In women, hormones are mainly responsible for the accumulation of fat around the tummy region.

Similarly, consumption of junk foods, fried, and processed foods also lead to pile up of fat on the stomach. Monounsaturated fats are often the culprit for the layers of fat on the stomach. Normal cooking oil is a great source of these monounsaturated fats.

Hence, ingesting such oil for years is bound to build up fat around belly. Safflower oil can prove to be a good normal cooking oil substitute.

Safflower oil is a type of vegetable oil extracted from the seeds of safflower plant. There are about 20 seeds per flower head of the safflower plant. It is colorless and odorless oil. Safflower oil comes in two types, one that is rich in oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty acid), and the other is linoleic acid (polyunsaturated fatty acid).

Needless to say, linoleic acid is the variety you should go for, if you wish to aim for belly fat reduction. Expeller-pressed safflower oil contains highest amount of linoleic acid. Besides, safflower oil also contains many other nutrients such as omega-6 essential fatty acids, vitamin E, phytosterols etc.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are extremely effective in lowering the levels of LDL cholesterol (bad) as well as blood sugar levels. Safflower oil also reduces the risk of heart diseases due to the presence of polyunsaturated fats in it. Besides, regular consumption of safflower oil adds shine to your hair and makes your skin healthy.

Safflower oil is known to increase the metabolism of the body, thereby preventing the accumulation of fat in body. It triggers the production of a hormone named adiponectin which assists in the catabolism of fatty acids. In the presence of safflower oil, the adiponectin production increases up to 20% than usual.

Thus, the process of fat burning is escalated which eventually results in loss of weight. Besides, it also alters the function of the fat cells, so that they tend to burn fats and release energy instead of accumulating fats. Safflower is capable of reducing the belly fat without any alteration in diet or exercise regimen of a person.

Moreover, it also increases the muscle mass which makes the body leaner and stronger.

Safflower oil benefits in losing belly fat have been backed by a study conducted by Ohio State University. A group of diabetic women in the post-menopausal age were surveyed for this purpose. This group took safflower oil for 16 weeks without altering their diet or exercise routine.

At the end of 16 weeks, the women reported a loss of about 3 pounds in their weight along with a reduction in their belly fat. Moreover, the rate of weight loss remained even throughout the study period, thereby alleviating any risks associated with quick weight loss. Thus, safflower oil proves better than any other weight loss remedies available.

The results of this study do not necessarily apply to men and women of all ages. They are mostly specific to obese women in the post menopausal age. Similarly, the efficacy of safflower oil supplements is not comparable with the liquid oil. Hence, the best way to avail the safflower oil benefits is by incorporating it in your daily diet.

Now that you know the benefits of safflower oil, let us take a look at various ways to incorporate this healthy oil in the daily diet, so that you can get rid of excessive belly fat. Here is how you can use it for weight loss in your daily meals.

• Use safflower oil for cooking vegetables and meat instead of using any other kind of cooking oil.
• Add about two teaspoons of safflower oil in a milk shake or in a smoothie. Do not exceed this limit as it may alter the taste of beverage.
• Use safflower oil for cooking rice and various gravies.
• Use it for making various salad dressings.

• Add a small quantity of safflower oil to yogurt.
• You can use safflower oil in baking by mixing it in the batter as a substitute for butter.
• Drizzle generous amounts of safflower oil in your dips and on your pita breads, salads and popcorn.
• Use unrefined safflower oil to make sweet and tangy vinaigrettes.

One should not exceed the intake of safflower oil above 2 tsp per day. While, safflower oil does reduce belly fat, excess of it can cause stomach ache. If you intend to use safflower oil for weight loss make sure you consult your doctor prior to using it.