Olive Oil
Health Facts
- High in ‘good’ monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats.
- Can help lower cholesterol as part of a healthy, balanced diet.
- A good choice for people who suffer joint pain.
Overview
As part of the Mediterranean diet olive oil is commonly used as a cooking oil, a salad dressing and as the basis for healthier spreads as an alternative to butter. It has been associated with several health benefits.
Olive oil is composed of monounsaturated fats (80%) and polyunsaturated fats (20%) and as such can help lower ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol as part of a balanced Mediterranean diet. This helps reduce the risk of obesity and conditions such as heart disease, stroke and type 2 Diabetes.
Switching to monounsaturated fats such as olive oil can also help people who experience joint pain (such as those suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis) as consuming saturated fats can increase inflammation and discomfort.
