Amazing Benefits from Half a Tablespoon of Olive Oil

https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/ ^ | May 09, 2025 | Joe Graedon

[bitt]

The evidence keeps accumulating that olive oil can help people lose weight and reduce the risk of heart disease and dementia. Getting enough?

We have been writing about the health benefits of olive oil for decades, although at one time doctors thought it was too high in saturated fat to be healthy. Data from long-running cohort studies continues to bolster our enthusiasm. They suggest that as little as half a tablespoon of olive oil might reduce mortality from heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and respiratory illness. People who consume olive oil are also less likely to die from dementia. A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, May, 2025 suggests that a long-term increase in olive oil consumption was associated with weight loss.

Losing Weight While Consuming Olive Oil? For decades, the nutrition establishment discouraged consumption of fat of any kind. Cardiologists were especially opposed to fat on the grounds that it would clog our arteries. Margarine with hydrogenated vegetable oil was recommended instead.

As a result of the anti-fat crusade, there was a proliferation of low-fat and no-fat foods. There was low fat/no-fat yogurt, fat-free salad dressings, cookies and cakes. There were even low-fat chips. You could buy SnackWell’s Devil’s Food Cookie Cakes that were “FAT FREE.” There were Hostess Lights Low Fat Twinkies, Fat Free HALF AND HALF from Land O Lakes and fat free Pringles with 100% SATISFACTION, 0% GUILT.

A lot of health professionals discouraged the use of olive oil because it contains roughly 14% saturated fat. In retrospect, a lot of “experts” were wrong about low fat/no fat and olive oil.

[KingLudd]

“ I put 3 tablespoons in my waffle mix but haven’t lost any weight “

Hilarious

[maddog55]

I prefer a shot of good bourbon.

[Texan]

California Ranch. Read the label. They also do blends that are less expensive. Pay up and get the good stuff.

[griffin]

Avacado oil and honey drizzle is my fav salad dressing

[AppyPappy]

“I’m eating biscuits....and not losing weight”

I can’t imagine why not

[griffin]

Most grocery store olive oils are adulturated with cheap seed oils.

Look for higher $$ glass jars with one source of oil. Should taste kinda spicey.

[erlayman]

I just realized the one I had been using was literally for babies...lol

[Yardstick]

Interesting. The bottle of EVOO I got at Aldi’s seems to check all the boxes:

Bottled in Italy (label says Sicily)
DOP label
Dark glass bottle with warnings about light exposure
Has harvest date

And priced very nicely.

[erlayman]

What is the taste ? The fridge test to see if it solidifies or the oil crystalizes sounds interesting in lieu of a professional lab certification.

[Yardstick]

Has that peppery bite that you expect from EVOO. I put the bottle in the fridge and will report back.

[Spacetrucker]

Sounds like a Genovese side-hustle 🦹‍♂️

[Spacetrucker]

Yes, I’d like to know the results, please pass them along - wife shops there occasionally.

[DAC21]

“I buy very high quality California Olive Ranch oil. Comes in glass, not plastic bottles”

They still have some high end stuff, but most of it is now “world blend” on the grocery shelves. Not exclusively olives from California. We still buy it but tend to alternate it with Aldi’s Sicilian Olive Oil. It’s real good bang for the buck.

[Sirius Lee]

I found some Spanish EVOO that I take every night. The Italian stuff that comes to the States often contains added crap.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"My Greek wife is convinced that none of the olive oil in American grocery stores is actually 100% from olives."

Your wife should stay away from mainstream grocery stores and seek out olive oil and vinegar stores. The good California EVOO brands are authentic and win international awards. You can find them in good grocery stores.

There's a really good olive oil and vinegar store in Burlingame, CA called Del Oliva. The owner is an encyclopedia of olive oil facts. He talks about why his oils are good (harvest time, which country, which time of year, how fast the harvest takes place, type of pressing, blends) and he suggests that lots of commercial EVOO is doctored or fake. I like buying his oils and vinegars.

There's an incredible olive oil store in downtown Missoula, MT called Tosca Olive Oils. I've seen lots of good oil collections, but this one is up there with the best in terms of variety. I haven't bought from them, so don't know about the quality. But the size is impressive.

[Veto!]

You’re right. Walmart has that Blend and so does Fred Meyer. But my local Safeway has the right stuff in glass bottles. A bit more expensive, but so what?

[jroehl]

My point is, you are never are 100% sure unless you see the process. That along with honey make them a particularly problematic food product. And I love oil/vinegar stores like Del Oliva!

[erlayman]

Mob families got their greasy hands all over it. Go Spanish. Or Greek.

https://www.oliveoiltimes.com/business/europe/top-italian-police-official-explains-how-olive-oil-fraud-works/133568

[citizen]

Popeye knows his gurls...

[Yardstick]

Okay, I checked it this morning after being in the fridge all night. The viscosity may have gotten slightly thicker but it didn’t solidify or congeal. So according to the fridge test, this would be a bottle of fake EVOO.

That said, the fridge test seems to be a myth:

https://www.californiaoliveranch.com/articles/top-5-olive-oil-myths-no-1-dont-trust-the-fridge-test