Canola Oil

I was talking to a friend today, and we were trying to figure out where on earth Canola Oil comes from. I have used it for baking many times, and had it on my shopping list for my next supermarket/health food store trip. I then recalled being told, in macrobiotic classes many years ago, not to use it; but could not exactly remember why. So I decided to do a little investigation. Here are a few facts that I discovered:

• Canola oil is short for Canada Oil. 
• It is a made-up word for the oil that comes from the Rape Seed. 
• It was invented in the 1970's
• Most of it is produced these days from genetically engineered Rape Seeds.
• GMO Rape Seeds are sold by Monsanto. 
• Canola oil, whether organic or not, is refined at incredibly high temperatures, which adversely affects the composition of the oil
• Margarine is made of canola oil... and soy fats (oils)...
• It is cheap to produce, therefore you will find it in most processed foods

Personally, I will no longer use Canola Oil for any cooking or baking. Olive Oil and Butter (organic, grass-fed) taste better anyway, and have both been around for thousands of years- for me, long enough to know they are good, real foods. 
For more detailed info on Canola Oil, please go to:

• http://aspartame.ca/page_oho3.htm 
• http://www.karinya.com/canola.htm  
• http://www.naturalnews.com/026630_canola_oil_olive_oil_saturated_fat.html
• http://editor.nourishedmagazine.com.au/articles/is-canola-oil-healthy
• http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/new/canola.htm