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

Forskarna upptäckte att den låga andelen dödsfall i hjärtsjukdomar på landsbygden på Kreta berodde på den höga konsumtionen av olivolja i motsats till andra länder vars invånare konsumerar fröoljor och animaliska fetter. Motsvarande forskning har visat att olivolja, på grund av sin enkelomättade oljesyrahalt, kontrollerar kolesterolnivån i blodet genom att förbättra nivån av HDL-lipoprotein, och följaktligen metabolismen av detta ämne, som är den främsta orsaken till hjärtsjukdomar.

Dessutom har organoleptiska egenskaper hos olivolja gör det lättsmält för kroppen och det mest lämpliga fettet att äta med gynnsamma effekter på magen.

Den spanska Interprofessionell olivoljeorganisation 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 Medelhavsdiet 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 virgin olivolja 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.

Även inom sport är effekten av olivolja viktig eftersom det är ett av de bästa fetterna man kan konsumera, med dess antiinflammatoriska verkan som hjälper uthållighetssporter (cykling, jogging, etc.) samt styrkesporter.