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

Para saintis mendapati bahawa kadar kematian yang rendah akibat penyakit jantung di luar bandar Crete adalah disebabkan oleh penggunaan minyak zaitun yang tinggi berbanding negara lain yang penduduknya mengambil minyak benih dan lemak haiwan. Penyelidikan yang sepadan telah membuktikan bahawa minyak zaitun, kerana kandungan asid oleik tak jenuh tunggalnya, mengawal tahap kolesterol dalam darah dengan meningkatkan tahap lipoprotein HDL, dan seterusnya metabolisme bahan ini, yang merupakan punca utama penyakit jantung.

Selain itu, pihak sifat organoleptik minyak zaitun menjadikannya mudah dihadam oleh badan dan lemak yang paling sesuai untuk dimakan dengan kesan yang baik pada perut.

Orang Sepanyol Organisasi Minyak Zaitun Interprofessional 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 Diet Mediterranean 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 minyak zaitun extra virgin 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.

Malah dalam sukan, kesan minyak zaitun adalah penting kerana ia adalah salah satu lemak terbaik yang boleh diambil oleh seseorang, dengan tindakan anti-radangnya membantu sukan ketahanan (berbasikal, jogging, dll.) serta sukan kekuatan.