OLIVE OIL HEALTH BENEFITS
Oil fat components
It contains more monounsaturated fat (77 percent) than any other fat or oil. The monounsaturated fat in olive oil encourages the body to produce high density lipoproteins (HDLs).
These HDLs do a good job of transporting cholesterol from place to bodily place. The low density lipoproteins (LDLs) are lazy transporters. They shuck off part of the cholesterol load on artery walls, and this can lead to heart attack or stroke. Studies suggest that olive oil decreases rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer.
It is unclear if any single component of olive oil is responsible for these health benefits or if it is a combination of olive oil and a diet high in vegetables, fruit and fish.
THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET PYRAMID
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