How healthy is olive oil?

It is full of fatty acids and health-promoting plant compounds called polyphenols

- Alexandra Pattillo

Many of the healthiest communities worldwide have something in common - diets rich in olive oil.

The ingredient, especially the extra-virgin variety, is full of fatty acids and health-promoting plant compounds called polyphenols that make it a potent anti-inflammatory with long-term benefits.

Studies suggest that consuming olive oil may help lower your risk of heart disease, neurodegenerative disease and even premature death, especially when it is eaten as part of a Mediterranean diet.

Olive oil is one of the key drivers of the diet’s health benefits, said Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, a nutrition researcher at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia, who studies olive oil. It is the healthiest type of fat to use in your diet, she added.

IT HELPS KEEP YOUR HEART HEALTHY

Of all the plant-based oils, olive oil has among the highest concentrations of monounsaturated fats and polyphenols.

These compounds, particularly one called oleic acid, work to balance cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and keep the heart healthier over time.