In recent years, public awareness of health issues has been on the increase. In particular, there has been an encouraging trend toward nutrition education, with more and more people taking their food choices into their own hands. One food that has always had a reputation for the development and maintenance of good health is olive oil.
Why Extra Virgin Olive Oil is Best
Consumers have long been conditioned to believe that the more something costs, the more necessary it is. While this is far from a universal truth, it turns out that in the case of olive oil, money really can buy happiness – in the form of good health. All forms of olive oil provide health benefits: unlike many of the fats we regularly consume, olive oil contains monounsaturated fat, which according to the Mayo Clinic, is a simple and effective way to lower the risk of heart disease. It does this by reducing LDL ("bad") cholesterol.
By contrast, other fats such as butter, animal fat and tropical oils have the opposite effect. The recommended daily dosage of olive oil is about two tablespoons; it is also a good idea to move toward replacing your usual saturated fats with olive oil, rather than simply adding it to your diet. These benefits can be gleaned from all types of olive oil; however, virgin olive oils, being the least processed, contain the highest levels of polyphenols, "a powerful antioxidant that also can promote heart health."
