Health experts across the globe continue to disagree about what role fats like butter and coconut oil specifically play in our health. But there’s one fat that just about everyone agrees on – and that’s extra virgin olive oil. Virtually everyone agrees that extra virgin olive oil is incredibly good for you – and for good reason.

Today we’re going to dive into exactly what the health benefits of olive oil are. And most importantly, we’re going to cover how to choose the right kind of olive oil to ensure you reap all of its incredible benefits.

What Are the Health Benefits of Olive Oil?

Olive oil’s name is pretty self-explanatory – it’s the natural oil extracted from olives grown on olive trees. Olive oil is chock-full of health-promoting compounds like:1

• Fatty acids (including Omega-3’s)
• Oleic acid
• Vitamins E and K
• Polyphenols
• Antioxidants

This potent combination of nutrients packs a powerful punch – delivering some impressive health benefits. Let’s dive into some of these. 

Olive Oil Reduces Inflammation:

Olive oil has powerful anti-inflammatory properties mainly due to its hefty dose of potent antioxidants and health-promoting fatty acids. In fact, olive oil has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties as strong as the over the counter drug Ibuprofen. This is thanks to two of the key antioxidants – oleocanthal and oleuropein.2,3,4 Fatty acids like those found in olive oil have also been found to significantly reduce a number of certain inflammatory biomarkers.5

Olive Oil Boosts Heart Health

Olive oil has been found to be incredibly beneficial for heart health and has been scientifically proven to: 6,7,8,9

• Lower blood pressure
• Improve the health of your blood vessels
• Prevent blood clots
• Protect against LDL cholesterol – the “bad” cholesterol
• Reduce the risk of stroke
• Protect against heart disease

Talk about a boost for your heart health!

Olive Oil Protects Your Brain

Olive oil has been found to boost brain health and even protect against neurodegeneration.10 In fact, studies have found that regular consumption of olive oil has such remarkable neuroprotective effects that it’s being studied as a way to combat – and potentially even reverse – the effects of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.11,12

Olive Oil Lowers Risk of Cancer

When left unchecked, harmful molecules known as free radicals can cause oxidative damage. Over time oxidative damage can lead to injury at the cellular level and change the way your cells reproduce – leading to cancer. Olive oil has been found to help neutralize free radicals, reduce oxidative damage, and even fight cancer cells.13,14

Does the Quality of Olive Oil Matter?

When it comes to olive oil, quality matters – a lot! You see, not all olive oil is created equally. The conditions in which the olive trees are grown can dramatically impact the nutritional profile of the olive oil you purchase. 

There are a few specific things you’ll want to look for to ensure you’re getting the highest quality olive oil. You’ll want to look for:

• Extra virgin olive oil: extra virgin olive oil refers to oil that has been extracted using mechanical means only – meaning it hasn’t been exposed to chemicals or heat.
• Organic: Opting for organically grown products ensures your olive oil is free from harmful fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and other toxic chemicals.
• High polyphenol and antioxidant content: When olive trees encounter obstacles like lack of water, or elevated temperatures, they have a natural defense mechanism to get them through. In response to these challenges, the olive tree increases its production of polyphenols and antioxidants to protect itself from its environmental challenges.15 This spike in health-promoting polyphenols and antioxidants is then passed on to you through the tree’s olive oil.

Author:Jill Carnahan, MD

Chiropractic and Nutritional Care in Los Alamitos by Dr. Steven B. Wasserman, a local Chiropractor can provide a consultation to identify the source your problem and a treatment plan.  Call us at 562-430-4949 for an appointment.