Olive oil has many benefits when consumed in the daily diet. It is a natural juice that preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit.

The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both 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.

Olive Oil and Digestion: Because of olive oil's fatty acid content, research shows that it can be digested more easily than any other edible fat or oil. A lower incidence of gallstones has been reported in populations consuming olive oil, which is attributed to the way in which olive oil stimulates bile drainage, raises "good" HDL cholesterol and provides a balanced intake of fatty acids.

Olive oil and heart disease: Studies have shown that people who consumed 25 milliliters (mL) - about 2 tablespoons - of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood. But while all types of olive oil are sources of monounsaturated fat, EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed.

Olive oil is the best oil that one can consume since it does not upset the critical omega 6 to omega 3 ratio of the body. Most of the fatty acids in olive oil are actually an omega-9 oil which is monounsaturated.

Olive oil and colon cancer: Spanish researchers suggest that including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention. Their study results showed that diets supplemented with olive oil had a lower risk of colon cancer than the safflower oil-supplemented diets.

Prevention of Breast Cancer: A study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine finds that the consumption of olive oil helps reduce women's chances of developing breast cancer. Research Director Dr. Alicja Wolk at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm suggested that women can easily increase their monounsaturated fat intake by replacing oils that are high in polyunsaturated fat with oils that are rich in monounsaturated fat, such as olive oil.

According to Dr. Dimitrios Trichopoulos, chairman of the Department of Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, "American women might actually experience as much as a 50 percent reduction in breast cancer risk if they consumed more olive oil" in place of other fats in their diets. Dr. Trichopoulos added that, "even though diet doesn't go to the root of the breast cancer problem, the findings of the various studies indicate that a prudent diet containing plenty of vegetables with olive oil may lower the risk of this disease."

Olive Oil and Antioxidants: Olive oil also contains antioxidants, which help protect the body from harmful molecules called "free radicals," which may accelerate the aging process and contribute to the onset of several diseases, such as heart disease and cancer.

In addition to the internal health benefits of olive oil, topical application is quite popular with fans of natural health remedies. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the preferred grade for moisturizing the skin, especially when used in the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM). OCM is a method of cleansing and moisturizing the face with a mixture of extra virgin olive oil, castor oil (or another suitable carrier oil) and a select blend of essential oils.