Olive Oil

I’m going to jump in right at the beginning and say that olive oil should be your primary healthy cooking oil. You may want to keep some specialty oils, like walnut or sesame, to add flavor to various dishes, but for general cooking, marinades or salad dressings, olive oil is numero uno. Why? I’m so glad you asked.

Fat is essential to the body, but it has to be the right fat. Olive oil contains high levels of mono- and polyunsaturated fats, both known to have beneficial effects on the body. The high monounsaturated component of olive oil helps to keep the arteries clear of LDL’s (low-density lipoproteins) which are components of blood that deposit fat and cholesterol in the arteries. Thus it is a heart healthy oil that helps prevent heart disease and can be a factor in preventing recurrence.

Among the other benefits to health are:

-antioxidant properties that slow down damage to the cells as a result of toxins in the body

-it is thought to help calcium absorption and thus protect against osteoporosis

-was recently found to contain a chemical that acts as a painkiller and can reduce inflammation

It acts against illness, delivering longevity and tastes delicious. What more could you ask for! Certainly it is an important component of the very healthy Mediterranean diet.

Much of the benefit of olive oil is derived from Extra Virgin, which is a first pressing of the olives. Also be sure to check the label that it has not been refined as that process can kill off many of the beneficial compounds.

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