Does olive oil provide essential fat? I’m so confused about what essential fats I need, can you clear this up for me? Thank you.

Olive oil is shown in research to promote a number of health benefits. For example, the European Food Safety Authority recently approved a claim concerning the benefits of olive oil polyphenols for the protection of low-density-lipoproteins (LDL) from oxidation - a process know to cause heart disease.

Olive oils polyphenols (active components) exert health benefits not only by scavenging free radicals but also by modulating gene expression involved in atherogenic and inflammatory processes in humans.

Olive oil is what you would call a health-promoting fat but it isn't a rich source of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) per se.

The EFAs are Omega-6 and Omega-3 which are “polyunsatuated” oils found in canola, fish, seeds and nuts.

Olive oils contain primarily “monounsaturated fats”. These are very different structurally and cannot serve as a substitute for the EFAs.

I believe olive oil can and should be part of a diet that achieve optimum health, however as olive oil isn’t a rich source of EFAs - you still need to get your EFAs from other sources.

For more information on the right fats, be sure to take a look at Essential Fats for Fat Loss. 

FOLLOW Dr Paul Cribb PhD.