Olive oil is a fat, so what makes it so good for you? Olive oil is monounsaturated, making it a good fat. A fat that wipes out the wrong kind of cholesterol (LDL) and cheers on the good kind (HDL). Another good thing, because extra virgin olive oil isn't refined, it retains antioxidants that help protect you against many different kinds of cancer. This doesn't mean you should add olive oil to a diet that already has plenty of fat in it; the healthy approach is to substitute olive oil for other fats.
There are two types of cholesterol, low density (LDL) and high density (HDL). Low density lipoproteins (LDL) transport and deposit cholesterol in the tissues and arteries. LDL is potentially harmful because it will deposit more cholesterol. HDL on the other hand eliminates cholesterol from the cells. Research has proved that using olive oil significantly increases HDL levels and that olive oil is the main source of monounsaturated fatty acids. An increase in the levels of HDL will not only provide protection against cholesterol deposits, but it will actually reduce cholesterol levels in the body.
To improve your health, replace your butter and other oils with olive oil.
There are three terms that often have negative connotations but are not necessarily negative. Calories are essential because they give us energy but not all calories are created equal. One hundred calories from fruit will burn off extremely fast but 100 calories from saturated fat will take much more work. Olives are fruit and the oil from the olive is not nearly as "fattening" as the saturated and trans fats in fast food. The type of calorie is more important than the quantity. For instance, you can remove 500 calories of saturated fat and add 750 calories of fruits and vegetables and still lose weight. We believe that it is not possible to use too much olive oil.
Flavor Infused olive oil gives you the additional health benefit of herbs, fruits and spices. Warming, cooling and flavorful spices, sweet, fruits, antioxidant rich and taste enhancing, flavored olive oils can add just the right accent to any dish