The Story of Olive Oil

Olive oil, frequently used as a symbol of peace, strength, and virility, has been valued and used for thousands of years. The ancient Romans and Greeks recognized the therapeutic benefits of olive oil, and used it in their daily lives. Olive oil’s nutritional aspects have been confirmed by numerous nutritional studies on the Mediterranean diet, in which olive oil, is the key ingredient. What makes olive oil the healthy oil? The Health benefits of olive oil are numerous. Olive oil contains the highest proportion of the monounsaturated fat, Oleic Acid.

Olive oil can:

• lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol
• lower your blood pressure
• reduce your risk of diabetes, rheubatid arthritis, and certain cancers including prostate, colon, and breast cancer.

The Benefits of Olive Oil

The Mediterranean diet is high in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and olive oil. Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fat, which may, in part, explain why countries that consume olive oil have lower rates of disease. Olive oil (especially extra virgin olive oil) contains substances called polyphenols which may have beneficial effects on health as well.

In a recent study in France, heart attack patients given a Med-diet had 70% fewer recurrent heart attacks than those following a low fat, low cholesterol diet. This research has stimulated a great deal of interest in the benefits of olive oil in the diet, particulary for heart attack patients.