Many types of oil are available on the market, including vegetable, canola, avocado, walnut, and coconut oil. It can be difficult to know which oil is the best. Do they actually taste different? Is one more healthful than the others?
This article takes a look at the differences between extra virgin olive oil and olive oil, including their tastes, health benefits, and cooking and smoke points.
Is olive oil healthful?
The uses of different oils vary. Olive oil has a great flavor that makes it suitable for adding uncooked to salad or bread, and it is relatively heat-stable for cooking. However, there has been some controversy over whether olive oil is actually healthful, and there is no consensus about which type is best.
The main types of fat in olive oil, which mainly consists of oleic acid, are monosaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which health experts agree are a healthful fat.
In contrast, saturated fats and trans fats are unhealthful fats. Research has linked eating unhealthful fats to a range of health conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and obesity.
Replacing saturated and trans fats with MUFAs can help lower a person’s risk of heart disease. These fats raise high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or “good,” cholesterol and reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or “bad,” cholesterol in the bloodstream.
Olive oil is one component of the Mediterranean diet, which research has shown to have many benefits for health, including that of the heart, eyes, and brain.
