At 06:22 PM 1/17/04 +1100, John Holman wrote:
>Can someone please explain or point me to an explanation of why Linseed oil
>is good while Rape seed oil (canola) is not.  They are both oils from seeds!
>So what's the difference???

Hi John;

Linseed oil is usually called flax oil when the extracted oil is used as a
food product.

It may have more to do with the processing than anything else. See URL below
which describes rapeseed processing.  Better-made flaxseed oil is generally
cold-pressed in order to safeguard the essential oils of the seed and it is
usually recommended when cooking/using it, not to heat the oil in a high
temperature and to store it in the refrigerator (or freezer).  Udo Erasmus
has written in great detail on oils (particularly about flax seed oil) in
his book. But, you can get lots of information at his website;

http://www.udoerasmus.com/articles/udo/fthftk3.htm

Rapeseed (canola):
Processing: http://www.emcentre.com/unepweb/tec_case/food_15/process/p16.htm
Nutrition: http://www.regional.org.au/au/gcirc/6/623.htm

Marilyn