Definition

A fat substitute that has no calories and is made from sugar and vegetable oil, used in snacks like chips, which the body does not digest.

Example

Many snack foods use olestra as a fat substitute to reduce calories.

Conversation

Have you tried those new chips that have olestra instead of regular fat?

Yeah, I tasted them last week, and they were surprisingly good!

I was impressed that they didn’t taste any different from the regular ones.

Right? It's amazing how they made olestra work in snacks.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Olestra is a coined term derived from the combination of 'oleo-' (from Latin 'oleum', meaning oil) and 'estra' (a suffix suggesting a chemical compound). The word refers to a synthetic fat substitute that mimics the properties of fat without the calories, thus combining the essence of oil with a chemical structure.

Memory Tip

Think of 'oleo' meaning oil, which helps you remember that olestra is related to a fat substitute that acts like oil but has fewer calories.

Visually Confused Words