Olive oils has, in many studies,has been found to be the healthy alternative to butter and other oils in your diet. Olive oil is very high in monounsaturated fats, polyphenols, antioxidants, vitamins A, D, and E. All leading to health benefits when used in moderation to replace other oils and fats.

History shows that olive oil has long been thought to be a substance of great medical benefit.

Evidence from epidemiological studies suggests that a higher proportion of monounsaturated fats in the diet is linked with a reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease. This is significant because olive oil is considerably rich in monounsaturated fats, most notably oleic acid.

In Nov. 2004 The Food and Drug Administration announced the decision to allow Olive Oil producers to make the following health claim on product labels:

"Limited and not conclusive scientific evidence suggests that eating about two tablespoons (23 grams) of olive oil daily may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease due to the monounsaturated fat in olive oil. To achieve this possible benefit, olive oil is to replace a similar amount of saturated fat and not increase the total number of calories you eat in a day."

FDA Olive Oil Study

The Mediterranean diet discovered in the 1950's has been long attributed to a healthy lifestyle. It has been scientifically researched for nearly 50 years and still yields positive results in studies.

• Mediterranean Diet Arcticle
• Mayo Clinic Mediterranean Diet Arcticle

Key components of the Mediterranean diet include:

• Eating a generous amount of fruits and vegetables
• Consuming healthy fats such as olive oil and canola oil
• Eating small portions of nuts
• Drinking red wine, in moderation, for some
• Consuming very little red meat
• Eating fish on a regular basis
  
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