Good fatty acids

There are two types of fats you need to be concerned with in your diet, saturated fats and unsaturated fats. The good fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids as they have properties that aid the control of fats and cholesterol in your body. Whereas saturated fatty acids contribute to the build up of bad fats and cholesterol in your body.

The main feature of the fatty acid composition of all olive oils is a high level of monounsaturated acid. Monounsaturated fatty acid accounts for over 70% of total fatty acids in olive oil. In addition olive oil generally contains about 10% polyunsaturated fatty acid and only around 14% of saturated fatty acids. This is a nutritionally balanced composition in line with accepted scientific studies that show monounsaturated fatty acids lower bad cholesterol and makes you less susceptible to high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer.

Vitamin A, D, E & K

Olive oil is a natural fruit juice and as such retains many vitamins that are essential in your diet. For instance the presence of vitamin A, D, E and K improves the appearance of skin and hair whilst also facilitates digestion.
Vitamins can be divided into the fat-soluble and water-soluble varieties. Because olive oil is a fat, it is higher in the fat-soluble vitamins. Fat-soluble vitamins generally are not broken down by cooking and are stored in the liver and body fat for long periods so it is not essential to eat them with every meal.

Most importantly Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps prevent what are known as free radicals in your body that are the cause of nearly every disease from arthritis to cancer to heart disease.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are essential in reducing the effects of oxidization in your body. Oxidization is a way of describing the breakdown of cells in your body and acts much like the corrosion of metals. The corrosion is caused by the development of 'free radicals' which are unusual atom chains that cause cells to function or grow incorrectly and can result in cell death. Antioxidants are used to protect your cells to prevent cell damage much like metal is galvanized to prevent corrosion. However oxidization is also a fact of life and aging and can only be controlled and not totally prevented.

Olive oil is a well-known source of vitamin E which is a fat soluble antioxidant which means it can be stored within the body. Most importantly vitamin E has been shown to have an effect on the prevention of the oxidization of LDL-cholesterol (otherwise known as high cholesterol) as well as protecting cells against free radicals known to cause cancer.

Olive oil also contains another well-known antioxidant; polyphenols. As well as contributing to the bitter taste characterized by olive oil polyphenols have antioxidant properties that contribute to the prevention of heart disease, skin damage and cancers. They are also known to boost the immune system as well as assist in digestive function through improving microbial activity.

Sources
www.wikipedia.org - olive oil
www.theoliveblog.com - Health & Olive Oil
http://news.bbc.co.uk - Scientists hail healthy olive oil

Health Disclaimer
The health section of the olive oil from Spain website is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as medical advice. The information provided on this site should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. It is not a substitute for professional care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, you should consult your health care provider and always continue using any medicines or medical treatment prescribed by your health care provider unless specified otherwise by them.