Is Olive Oil Healthy? We Set the Record Straight

Despite the ever-changing mass debate on what is healthy and what is not, olive oil is one of the few foods that has never really fallen out of vogue. In fact, it has been a staple of a healthy diet for centuries, serving the ancient Egyptians, Grecians and Romans alike. But, popularity in and of itself does not deem a consumable healthy. But a few other things do, like its ability to lower cholesterol and regulate blood sugar.

In this guide, we are setting the record straight about whether or not olive oil is actually healthy and why it is still foundational to clean eating. Read on to learn what the experts have to say about it and why.

What the Experts Have to Say

By and large, the experts agree that olive oil is good for you. Working a few servings of California extra virgin olive oil into your diet can support the whole body, from joints to heart. Here are a few examples of what the health and medicine experts say about this bona fide superfood.

• Mayo Clinic: The Rochester, Minn. health authority says swapping out your trans and saturated fats for olive oil is a smart dietary decision. That is because it contains healthy fats called monounsaturated fatty acids, which are found to help lower cholesterol and manage blood sugar levels.
• Centers for Disease Control: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends olive oil as part of a good, heart-healthy diet, thanks to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids.
• Harvard Health: Harvard Health has published a number of articles and studies on why olive oil is a plant-based powerhouse that is good for your health. They recently reported on a study showing that people who consumed at least a half-tablespoon of olive oil a day had a 14 percent lower risk of developing heart disease than those who did not use olive oil.

Why Medical Experts Say Olive Oil Is a Go

The wellness community agrees that working some healthy olive oil into your diet is a spectacular way to boost your overall health and well-being. Of course, like everything in life, moderation is key, but there is no denying olive oil’s abilities when consumed properly.

Take a look at a few of the ways this amazing ingredient gets put to work in your body.

• Lowers Cholesterol — According to Harvard Health, the reason why monounsaturated fatty acids are so good for your heart is because they help lower your “bad” cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This is the stuff that collects along the walls of your blood vessels, causing heart disease.
• Manages Blood Sugar Levels — When compared with other types of oils and fats, olive oil is the clear winner in helping to manage blood sugar levels. In fact, studies show that it can help lower blood sugar better than other kinds of fats, helping lower your risk for developing diabetes.
• Contains Ample Antioxidants and Vitamins — In addition to fighting against heart disease and diabetes, olive oil can also help provide essential nutrients throughout the day. It is jam-packed with powerful antioxidants and also contains vitamin E and vitamin K.
• Serves as an Anti-Inflammatory — One rather surprising health benefit of olive oil is its ability to reduce inflammation. In fact, the Arthritis Foundation says it can help quell inflammation, thanks to its ability to stop the production of certain enzymes that cause it to begin with.

Not All Olive Oil Is Created Equal

One important thing to note about olive oil is that not all kinds are healthy. Make sure you are consuming extra virgin olive oil, which is produced from ripe olives without chemicals or heat which could destroy some of the nutrients. Freshness matters, too. The fresher the extra virgin olive oil, the higher the antioxidant levels. This is because it has had less exposure to heat, light and air, which can cause damage over time.

At Brightland, we guarantee freshness by always selling the most recent harvest and labeling every bottle with the harvest date. We also bottle our oil in UV-protected glass bottles to prevent light damage. As a result, our olive oils have five times as many antioxidant-rich polyphenols as most olive oils.

Browse our bottles or choose from our olive oil gift sets to discover a healthy, delicious option that will help you transform your health for the better.