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

Vedci zistili, že nízka miera úmrtí na srdcové choroby na vidieku na Kréte bola spôsobená vysokou spotrebou olivového oleja na rozdiel od iných krajín, ktorých obyvatelia konzumujú oleje zo semien a živočíšne tuky. Zodpovedajúce výskumy preukázali, že olivový olej vďaka obsahu mononenasýtenej kyseliny olejovej reguluje hladinu cholesterolu v krvi tým, že zlepšuje hladinu HDL lipoproteínu a tým aj metabolizmus tejto látky, ktorá je hlavnou príčinou srdcových ochorení.

Okrem toho, organoleptické vlastnosti olivového oleja aby bola pre telo ľahko stráviteľná a najvhodnejší tuk na stravovanie s priaznivými účinkami na žalúdok.

Španielsky Medziodborová organizácia pre olivový olej 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 Stredomorská strava 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 extra panenský olivový olej 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.

Aj pri športe je účinok olivového oleja dôležitý, pretože je to jeden z najlepších tukov, ktorý sa dá konzumovať, s protizápalovým pôsobením pomáha pri vytrvalostných športoch (bicyklovanie, beh a pod.), ako aj pri silových športoch.