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The research carried out on olive oil over the last few years by respected institutions such as Harvard and Oxford Universities has had very positive results. It has been found that the most beneficial olive oil is 'extra-virgin' olive oil - the oil created by the first pressing of the olives. Choosing 'extra-virgin' olive oil as your main source of dietary fat is a prime factor in maintaining good health as this type of oil can actually lower the risk of coronary heart disease by reducing blood cholesterol levels. Saturated fats increase both blood pressure levels and the risk of heart disease.
This was proved by a recent study involving people suffering from 'hypertension' whose dietary intake of olive oil was purposely increased. After a period of 2 months, the effect that the increased intake had was significant enough to decrease their anti-hypertensive drug dosage by 50%!! Another study concluded that a person's risk of a fatal heart attack is halved in just 2 to 4 years if they switch to a diet with a higher olive oil consumption such as the .Â
Research has also found that olive oil may influence body fat distribution meaning less fat is stored around the stomach and waist. This is significant as those who store their body fat around the waist also have a higher risk of heart disease. Consumption of olive oil is also thought to lead to a reduced risk of some cancers and even diabetes.Â
The most recent findings to date were reported in the 'Daily Telegraph' newspaper in the United Kingdom.  Scientists from the 'Morell Chemical Senses Center' in Philadelphia found that extra-virgin olive oil relieves pain in the same way as some 'pain-killers' such as Ibuprofen. They discovered that the oil contains an anti-inflammatory compound called 'oleocanthal' which suppresses the same pain pathway as the 'painkillers' do.  This is extremely important as it is the inflammation in the body that is believed to play a key role in causing some chronic diseases like cancer.
The difference between the various olive oils is in their acidity level. The acidity level affects only the taste of the olive oil that you purchase; it has virtually no impact on the nutritional content. For all cooking purposes buy a medium priced 'extra virgin' olive oil from either Spain or Italy. Be sure to use only low to moderate heat when cooking with olive oil.
All of you that have do the cooking at home will have used cooking oil or olive oil at some point. Whether you use the oil for frying or salads, organic oil can provide the maximum taste with the minimum use of pesticides and chemicals in its production. Organic olives are used in the production and many people say that the taste is superior to non organic olive oil.
Olives are typically grown in the Mediterranean, with its hot dry summers and cool winters it is the ideal habitat of the olive tree. Olive oil is the oil obtained from the fruit of the olive tree in a mechanical manner. The liquid is pressed out of the olives. Organic olive oils are often picked and crushed by large stone rollers without the use of any mechanical machinery or unnatural processes. Expensive virgin oil is sometimes labelled in a way that you can trace exactly where the oil has come from. The bottle and tin can be numbered and this enables the buyer to identify from which trees the olive oil of each individual container came from.
As well as organic oil, fairtrade oil is increasingly available. The Fairtrade principal involves democratic organisation where producers have maximum control over their land and are often formed into co-operatives. Trade Unions are allowed, no child labour is used in the production and a decent wage is paid to the workers that pick the olives and produce the oil. The Fairtrade Mark means that a social premium is paid on the product which doesnt go to the individuals, it goes to the organisation or communities for development projects such as health, education and sanitation.
One producer of Fairtrade Organic Olive Oil is Zaytoun
Zaytoun is the UKs first volunteer non-profit project to import fair trade palestinian organic olive oil to the UK.
The oil is imported from farmers worse hit by the current political crisis in Palestine.
The agricultural economy, which is one of the major arteries of the Palestinian economy, has been significantly damaged due to the continuing conflict with Isreal.
65% of Palestinian families live in rural areas and are connected to agriculture in some form.
Rural livelihoods have been desimated through the confiscation of land, uprooting of trees, controlling of water sources, denying access to land and the lack of access to markets in Isreal and abroad.
Zaytoun attempts to seek a practical means of assisting the Palestinian People by providing consumers with something we use at least once a week, cooking oil!
Did you know that you can also buy olive based beauty care products such as soap? Olives have long since been known to hold the secret of youthful vitality.