Olive oil is a fat obtained from the fruit of the Olea europaea (olive tree), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean region, where whole olives are pressed to produce olive oil.The oil is used in cosmetics, medicine, cooking and soaps, and was also used as a fuel for traditional lamps. Although originating in the Mediterranean countries, today it is used worldwide.
Some of it’s health benefits are:
Frying with olive oil does not raise heart disease risk
Olive oil helps prevent stroke
Depression risk lower with olive oil, higher with trans fats
Olive oil may reduce breast cancer risk
Olive oil helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels
Extra virgin olive oil protects against alzheimer’s disease
Extra virgin olive oil helps prevent acute pancreatitis
Extra virgin olive oil protects the liver