Olive Oil Is Healthy For Your Heart

Olive oil has beneficial effects such as lowering blood pressure, inhibiting the oxidation of LDL cholesterol (the last step before it gets put into your arteries), providing anti-inflammatory effects, and improving insulin sensitivity.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given manufactures of olive oil and some olive oil-containing food the green light to carry a statement about their potential heart benefits. The claim indicates evidence suggesting that about 2 tablespoons of olive oil per day may reduce the risk of a heart attack. However, to achieve this result, the olive oil should replace a similar amount of saturated fat and should not increase the total daily calories.

The strong taste of extra-virgin olive oil is partially because of a large amount of “flavonoids”, which account for its antioxidant properties that then reduce LDL oxidation. Other foods rich in flavonoids include berries, apples, onions, tea, and red wine (all of which have also been shown to be of benefit in reducing the risk of heart attack/disease).