Q: I know corn oil comes from corn and olive oil from olives, but what is canola — a grain, a vegetable or what?

— H.R., Akron, Ohio

A: Canola oil is classified as a vegetable oil. It is made from a rape seed, part of the mustard family of plants developed, by a Canadian researcher, to be low in erucic acid. It was originally grown for animal feed, but scientists found that oil made from the seeds was very healthful for humans.

Canola oil is monosaturated. Using it will help lower your “bad” cholesterol (LDL) while raising your “good” cholesterol (HDL). The trademarked name is a combination of the words “Canada” and “oil.”

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