Olive oil nutrition

Extra virgin olive oil is often described as a superfood and as the healthiest oil you can eat. In the USA the Food and Drink Administration (FDA) now permit olive oil producers to say on labels that there is limited evidence to suggest eating 2 tablespoons of olive oil each day reduces the risk of heart disease.

Beneficial fats

Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, in particular oleic acid. Oleic acid contains anti oxidants including vitamin E and carotenoids. A number of respected scientific studies claim that eating a high proportion of monounsaturated fats lowers blood cholesterol and this is linked to a reduction in the risk of heart disease [1]. Because olive oil contains high levels of monounsaturated fats, and it has been observed that people who consume large quantities of olive oil have better heart health, it is widely accepted that eating olive oil may prolong life itself.

Olive oil lifestyle

While there may be other lifestyle issues affecting heart health, such as eating a diet containing less meat and a higher proportion of fresh fruit and vegetables, or perhaps taking regular exercise, it is notable that high olive oil consumption comes hand in hand with low rates of disease. Since the 1950s scientists have made comparisons between various nations in terms of their diet and death from cardio vascular illness. In Crete, for example, where average consumption of olive oil was recorded as 31 litres per year, the heart disease rate during the same period was shown to be the lowest among seven countries studied (Finland, USA, Holland, Italy, Yugoslavia, Corfu and Japan)[1]. Previously it was believed that a diet high in any fat could not possibly be healthy.

More good things about olive oil

Eating olive oil has also been shown to help reduce blood pressure [2] and lower blood sugar levels. Research points to other beneficial properties, including as a factor in the prevention of cancer. It is believed that this is due to high levels of anti oxidants that naturally occur in olive oil [3].

Extra virgin the best of all

Extra virgin olive oil is the purest form of olive oil because it is extracted with the least processing. It is not treated with high levels of heat and no chemicals are used in its manufacture. For this reason extra virgin olive oil contains the highest nutrient content.