Safflower for Weight Loss

Safflower blooms annually and the blossoms range from yellow to red. Safflower is grown in regions across the world but thrives in hot, dry areas. The seeds and oil of safflower are both edible, although neither is an optimal choice for weight loss, as they are calorie-dense and high in fat.

Calorie Content

Both safflower seeds and safflower oil are high in calories. Safflower seeds provide 146 calories per 1 oz. serving, while the oil contains 120 calories in each 1 tbsp. serving. These amounts comprise 7.3 and 6 percent of the daily suggested intake of 2,000 calories, respectively. Although you can include high-calorie foods on your diet, safflower seeds and oil are particularly detrimental for dieting because even small serving sizes are high in calories. Such a low volume of food will likely be unsatisfying.

Fat Content

Safflower seeds and safflower oil are high in fat, as 1 oz. of the seeds provides 11 g, while 1 tbsp. of oil contains 13.6 g. Fat is high in calories, so foods rich in this nutrient can be detrimental for weight loss. As research from the May 2001 issue of "International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders" notes, fat is less filling and produces less of a calorie-burning, or thermogenic, effect than other nutrients, so it's not optimal for weight loss.

Carbohydrates

Safflower oil contains no carbohydrates, while safflower seeds contain 9.7 g in each 1 tbsp. serving. Thus, safflower oil may be better suited to a low-carbohydrate diet. Low-carbohydrate diets can be effective, but they aren't necessary for weight loss.

Protein

Safflower oil contains no protein, while each 1 tbsp. serving of safflower seeds contains 4.6 g. Thus, both safflower products are poor choices for high-protein diets, and may be less than optimal for dieting in general. According to research from the May 2008 issue of "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," protein is more filling than other nutrients and spurs an increase in calorie burning. Thus, even moderate increases in protein intake may aid in weight loss.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid

One benefit that safflower oil and safflower seeds may offer for weight loss is that they contain conjugated linoleic acid, a type of fatty acid that may aid in weight management. According to research from the September 2009 edition of "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," isolated conjugated linoleic acid as well as safflower oil can aid in weight loss. However, a study from the July 2011 issue of "The Journal of Nutrition" found that conjugated linoelic acid had no effect on weight or body composition, so your results may vary.