Olive oil is an age-old product that can be used to enhance almost every meal, and benefits your overall health both internally and externally. Here's our guide to olive oil and healthy eating, and with ways to get your children eating well throughout the day.

1) Olive oil is largely responsible for the attributes lent to the term “Mediterranean diet”, seen as a healthy diet for low weight gain.

2) Olive oil reduces the risk of heart disease by lowering the build up of bad cholesterol in the veins, but leaving good cholesterol.

3) Olive oil lessens gallstone formation by activating bile secretion.

4) There are no more calories in olive oil than there is in any other type of oil.

5) The natural antioxidants in olive oil slow down the aging process.

6) Olive oil helps to prevent overproduction of acid during digestion and therefore reduces the risk of ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems.

7) Extra virgin olive oil is full of antioxidants, especially vitamin E, because it is taken from the oil's first pressing, and has not been diluted as much as other pressings.

8) In comparison with vegetables, olive oil has more of a beneficial effect on blood pressure.

9) It has been shown that the consumption of olive oil can dramatically reduce the risk of breast cancer.

10) Olive oil is considered to be the best cooking oil because it remains stable at high heat, without becoming hydrogenated or saturated.

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