Advantages of Olive Oil in Your Diet

Olive oil is now used in more and more home kitchens because of its support among health experts. In addition to what it does, what it doesn’t do is a key factor in its benefits and popularity. Understanding the advantages of olive oil in your diet will help you know when to add it to recipes.

Olive Oil is a Healthy Fat Substitute

Olive oil is a monounsaturated fat vs. a saturate fat. Many cooked dishes require fat for flavor, body and to prevent foods from sticking to pots and pans. Using monounsaturated fats gives you the flavor and cooking benefits of other fats without their negative effects on health. Check out our article on cooking with healthy fats for more information and tips.

Weight Loss and Olive Oil

According to a study published in Nutrition Journal, researchers found that diets relying on olive oil as its main source of fat were effective at reducing weight because they reduce appetite, increase metabolism efficiency and improve blood sugar levels. Their conclusion was that a diet of this type (e.g., Mediterranean diet) was a safe an effective way of losing weight.

Lower Blood Pressure

Another one of the advantages of olive oil in your diet is that it helps reduce high blood pressure. While no definitive research has found the exact link between olive oil and reduced blood pressure, antioxidants known as polyphenols, found in olive oil but not other oils, like sunflower, for example, may be responsible for improved blood pressure levels.

Additional Resources:

University of California: Olive Oil Health Benefits