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

Oamenii de știință au descoperit că rata scăzută a deceselor cauzate de boli de inimă în Creta rurală se datorează consumului mare de ulei de măsline, spre deosebire de alte țări ai căror locuitori consumă uleiuri din semințe și grăsimi animale. Cercetările corespunzătoare au demonstrat că uleiul de măsline, datorită conținutului său de acid oleic mononesaturat, controlează nivelul de colesterol din sânge prin îmbunătățirea nivelului de lipoproteine HDL și, în consecință, metabolismul acestei substanțe, care este principala cauză a bolilor de inimă.

In plus proprietățile organoleptice ale uleiului de măsline o fac usor digerabila de catre organism si cea mai potrivita grasime pentru mancare cu efecte benefice asupra stomacului.

Spaniola Organizația interprofesională a uleiului de măsline 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 Dieta mediteraneana 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 ulei de măsline 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.

Chiar și în sport, efectul uleiului de măsline este important pentru că este una dintre cele mai bune grăsimi pe care le putem consuma, cu acțiunea sa antiinflamatoare ajutând sporturile de anduranță (ciclism, jogging etc.) precum și sporturile de forță.