Olive oil has to be one of the most popular oils around. It has numerous health benefits. It is low in saturated fat and high in unsaturated fat. There are conflicting reports on the safety of olive oil. The following will explain the benefits and cautions you should take when consuming. Firstly, saturated fats such as that found on red meat are linked to heart disease. These fats may cause your cholesterol to increase.

Olive oil has mostly unsaturated fat. Studies show that diets high in unsaturated fat has a lower chance of heart disease. The fat is olive oil is monounsaturated fat. This is responsible for lowering your cholesterol level. This lowers that bad cholesterol in your body. High cholesterol is linked to strokes, hardening of the arteries, and heart attacks. Studies show that olive oil (extra virgin) is helpful in lowering your blood pressure as well. The substance responsible is called polyphenols. Polyphenols is an antioxidant. Antioxidants prevent damage to blood vessels and cells by attacking free radicals that may be in your body.

Olive oil can also be effective in lowering your chance of rheumatoid arthritis. The exact mechanism has not been identified yet. However, in recent studies it has been shown that people who ate a significant amount of olive oil had a significantly lower chance of getting this disease that characterized joints by the stiffening over you.

There have been recent studies that claim eating olive oil can be destructive by narrowing your blood vessels after consuming. This can be counteracted if you consume plenty of fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants present in these foods cancel out the narrowing affect.

Although olive oil is healthy, don't eat too much. It is still fat. All fats contain the same amount of calories, meaning that if you consume too much you can still gain weight. Try replacing saturated fat such as butter and lard with olive oil.

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