Safflower oil, a common cooking oil, may help improve insulin sensitivity, lower inflammation and blood sugar levels, and elevate HDL (good) cholesterol in overweight women with Type 2 diabetes, according to new research from Ohio State University. The study also revealed that the oil helps reduce abdominal fat, which is linked to an increased risk of heart disease. The findings indicate that a daily dietary dose of one and two-thirds teaspoons is sufficient for a person to benefit from the oil’s health-protective effects.