Olive oil is a major component of the Mediterranean diet. It is rich in antioxidants. The main fat it contains is monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which experts consider a healthful fat. The antioxidants in olive oil may help protect the body from cellular damage that can lead to a range of health conditions and diseases.
Extra virgin olive oil has a bitter flavor, but it contains more antioxidants than other types, as it undergoes the least processing. In this article, find out more about the health benefits of olive oil and find some ideas on how to use it. Olive oil comes from olives, the fruit of the olive tree.
Olives are a traditional crop of the Mediterranean region. People make olive oil by pressing whole olives. People use olive oil in cooking, cosmetics, medicine, soaps, and as a fuel for traditional lamps. Olive oil originally came from the Mediterranean, but today, it is popular around the world.
In the diet, people preserve olives in olive oil or salted water. They eat them whole or chopped and added to pizzas and other dishes. They can use olive oil a dip for bread, for drizzling on pasta, in cooking, or as a salad dressing. Some people consume it by the spoonful for medicinal purposes.
