The greatest exponent of monounsaturated fat is Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and it is a prime component of the Mediterranean Diet. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil can be consumed as is... freshly pressed from the fruit.

The beneficial health effects of Extra Virgin Olive Oil are due to its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidative substances. Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels. (1-3) No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as Extra Virgin Olive Oil - mainly oleic acid.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil is very well tolerated by the stomach. In fact, Olive Oil's protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Olive Oil activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones much more naturally than prescribed drugs. Consequently, it lowers the incidence of gallstone formation.

Sammarelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Heart Disease: Studies have shown that people who consumed 25 milliliters (mL) - about 2 tablespoons - of Extra Virgin Olive Oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood.(4)

While all types of Olive Oil are sources of monounsaturated fat, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed.

Our Extra Virgin Olive Oil is clearly one of the good oils, one of the healing fats. Most people do quite well with it since it does not upset the critical omega 6 to omega 3 ratio and most of the fatty acids in Extra Virgin Olive Oil are actually an omega-9 oil which is monounsaturated.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Colon Cancer: Spanish researchers suggest that including extra virgin olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention (5). Their study results showed that rats fed diet supplemented with Sammarelli Extra Virgin Olive Oil had a lower risk of colon cancer than those fed safflower oil-supplemented diets. In fact, the rats that received extra virgin olive oil had colon cancer rates almost as low as those fed fish oil, which several studies have already linked to a reduction in colon cancer risk.

For more information contact: The Health Department of Canada and North American Olive Oil Association.

Buying Olive Oil:  When buying olive oil you will want to obtain a Sammarelli extra virgin olive oil. Our oil comes from the "first pressing" of the olives and is cold pressed. It has no "off" flavors. The less Olive Oil is handled, the closer to its natural state, and the better the oil. You can of course buy our Extra Virgin Olive Oil in many quality grocery and specialty stores.