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Oil Facts

Oils are extracted from plant sources by crushing, cracking or flaking the vegetable, fruit, seeds or nut in a press and then purifying the resulting oil. Canola , sunflower, cottonseed and sesame oils are obtained from seeds, walnut and macadamia oils are obtained from nuts, while olive oil comes from a fruit and soybean oil comes from beans.

The table below shows where different oils come from.



The role of oils in the body

Oils are essential for growth and development throughout all life stages. They provide our bodies with energy for our work, daily activities and exercise, as well as essential vitamins. They also provide insulation and protection of our bones and joints. See below for more details on the role of oils in the body.

Oils are high in energy

Oils are the most concentrated form of energy, providing us with 37kJ of energy per gram of fat. For comparison, the energy content of one gram of carbohydrates is approximately half that of fat, at 17kJ.
Because oils are high in energy, they help us meet our daily energy needs – this is particular important or babies and children who require extra energy for growth and development.

Oils contain fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients

Vitamins are nutrients which are essential to health. The body cannot produce them and so they must be provided by the foods we eat each day. They are only needed in very small amounts but they perform many important functions in the body and a deficiency of some vitamins can lead to serious diseases.

Vitamins A, D, E and K are fat-soluble vitamins and are mainly obtained through eating foods containing fats and oils. Vegetables oils, such as Sunflower oil are a good source of vitamin E, while margarine spreads provide vitamins A and D.

Oils provide essential fatty acids

Omega-3 and Omega-6 are two essential fatty acids which are needed to ensure good health. They cannot be made by the body and so must be provided by the foods we eat each day. A lack of these essential fats in the diet can lead to deficiency symptoms like dry and scaly skin, excessive thirst and impaired liver function.

Oils are converted by the body into important hormones

Hormones are substances in the body with very specific and important functions, including regulation of our metabolism (our “internal engine”), building cells and supplying energy. Some of these hormones are derived from the oils we eat.

Oils are used by our bodies for physical protection and insulation

Body fat helps to cushion our internal organs and protect our bones and joints, as well as keep us warm in cold climates.

Where do the oils in margarine spreads come from?

The canola oil in canola spreads is extracted from canola seeds grown in Australia. Canola is the largest oilseed crop in Australia and is grown mainly in the cooler climates of central and southern NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia. Canola is harvested in November / December.
The sunflower oil in sunflower spreads comes from sunflower plants which are a native of Central America but are today grown in Russia, China, South America, Europe, India and Australia. Sunflowers are the third major oilseed crop grown in Australia and are a summer crop grown mainly in the warmer climates of central and southern Queensland and northern NSW. 

The table below shows the type of fats and nutrients in different types of oils and spreads. It shows that Canola oil has the lowest percentage of saturated fat than any other commonly used oil.