Question: Is extra-virgin olive oil more heart-healthy than regular olive oil?
Answer: Recent studies have confirmed the health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which cuts the risk of heart disease. The diet’s nutritional benefits probably come from a variety of sources, but the diet’s generous use of olive oil has also drawn a lot of attention.
Olive oil, regardless of type, is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, containing about 75% by volume. When substituted for saturated fat, monounsaturated fats help lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of olive oil add benefits beyond cholesterol lowering.
Extra-virgin olive oil is pressed mechanically from ripe olives and processed without high heat or chemical solvents. This protects chemicals in the oil called phenols. Small laboratory-based experiments suggest that phenols may have beneficial effects in the bloodstream. In contrast, highly processed olive oils lose these beneficial chemicals. Despite the laboratory-based tests, there has been no definitive study comparing the ability of refined versus extra-virgin olive oil to prevent heart disease.
Extra-virgin olive oil may have some unique properties, but it is not the sole healthy ingredient in a Mediterranean diet. Think of it as just one aspect of the Mediterranean style of eating, which includes fruits, vegetables, and nuts; whole grains; limited amounts of animal foods like red meat; and, for those who imbibe, moderate amounts of red wine.
By: William Kormos, M.D.
Editor in Chief, Harvard Men’s Health Watch
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/is-extra-virgin-olive-oil-extra-healthy