The first in a series of reports scheduled to be published by the IOC over the next year, Health Benefits of Olives and Olive Oil indicates that consumers are increasingly seeking to incorporate foods into their diets that can help boost or maintain health, including helping prevent some diseases.
Olives and olive oil include healthy fats, such as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Olive oil, the main type of fat found in the Mediterranean Diet, is high in oleic acid, which is a MUFA.
The positive impact of MUFAs on certain health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer, has been the subject of considerable study. Olives and olive oil are also a rich source of numerous compounds, including polyphenols, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
Source: IOC
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