Hippocrates and other ancient physicians used olive oil to treat diseases. Modern scientific research has now proven these beneficial properties.

Tutkijat havaitsivat, että Kreetan maaseudulla sydänsairauksiin kuolleiden alhainen määrä johtui korkeasta oliiviöljyn kulutuksesta, toisin kuin muissa maissa, joiden asukkaat kuluttavat siemenöljyjä ja eläinrasvoja. Vastaavat tutkimukset ovat osoittaneet, että oliiviöljy säätelee monotyydyttymättömän öljyhappopitoisuutensa ansiosta veren kolesterolitasoa parantamalla HDL-lipoproteiinien tasoa ja siten tämän aineen aineenvaihduntaa, joka on sydänsairauksien pääasiallinen syy.

Lisäksi oliiviöljyn organoleptiset ominaisuudet tekevät siitä kehon helposti sulavan ja syötäväksi sopivimman rasvan, jolla on suotuisia vaikutuksia vatsaan.

Espanjalaiset Ammatillinen oliiviöljyjärjestö supports experts and researchers in order to highlight the health-protective effect of olive oil on the human body. Spanish researchers, among them doctors, are seeking to make olive oil more known to the general public, as many people are not aware of the beneficial effects of olive oil. Through the campaign “For a Lifetime”, they differentiate the quality categories of olive oil, promote its uses in cooking and nutrition in general and want to convey to the Spanish population the advantages that they will have by following a Välimeren ruokavalio in which olive oil will be the main source of fats.

As they argue, a small percentage of people follow the Mediterranean Diet, so it is considered necessary to spread the scientific evidence that exists about the benefits of olive oil and how people with cardiovascular problems can be helped by its use. Specifically, from the CORDIOPREV study (2022) it appears that cardiovascular patients who follow a Mediterranean Diet rich in ekstra neitsyt-oliiviöljy have up to 30% less chance of their disease recurring compared to those who follow a healthy diet but low in “good” fats.

Olive oil is characterized as a “dietary jewel”, which lowers blood pressure, helps prevent diabetes, increases good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol, conditions that are closely related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, which mitigates chronic diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, as well as cancer.

Jopa urheilussa oliiviöljyn vaikutus on tärkeä, koska se on yksi parhaista rasvoista, mitä voi syödä, ja sen anti-inflammatorinen vaikutus auttaa kestävyyslajeissa (pyöräily, lenkkeily jne.) sekä voimaurheilussa.