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 >OLIVE
OIL:
THE
HEALTHY
CHOICE
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Men and women around the world are increasingly
discovering that good nutrition means a healthy and improved
lifestyle. It adds energy and joy to living. Olive oil plays
a vital role in a well-balanced, healthy diet. Recent studies
have shown that olive oil, when used as a substitute to other
fats, (rich in saturated fats), is able to ward off a number
of conditions which can undermine our health.
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Olive
Oil: the healthy choice
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To choose olive oil is to choose a healthy lifestyle.
To choose Bertolli olive oil is to choose to be healthy
without losing taste and quality.
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The type of fat you consume, and the fatty acid composition
of your diet, is essential to your health. All fats, whether
solid or liquid, are made up of a certain quantity of mono unsaturated,
poly unsaturated and saturated acids. |
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Saturated acids in particular are very dangerous to the health
because they increase the amount of "bad" cholesterol in the
blood. And it is precisely the oxidation of this "bad" cholesterol,
called LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) that is believed to be
the main cause of cardiovascular disease and arteriosclerosis.
Antioxidants within the olive oil
Olive oil contains also a lot of natural nutrients, such as
antioxidants (vitamin E and polyphenols). There are indications
that regular usage of olive oil, in particular extra virgin
olive oil, may reduce the oxidation of cells and the level
of bad cholesterol, helping protect the body from harmful
substances called free radicals.
The composition of olive oil
The main feature of the fatty acid composition of all olive
oils is a high level of mono unsaturated acid. Mono unsaturated
acid accounts for over 70% of total fatty acids. In addition
olive oil generally contains about 10% poly unsaturated acid
and only around 14% of saturated fatty acids. This is a nutritionally
balanced composition in line with the most modern dietary
guidelines.
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Monounsaturated
Fat |
Polyunsaturated
Fat |
Saturated
Fat |
| Olive
Oil |
77% |
9% |
14%
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| Canola
Oil |
62% |
32%
|
6% |
| Peanut
Oil |
49% |
33% |
18% |
| Corn
Oil |
25%
|
62% |
13% |
| Soybean
Oil |
24% |
61% |
15% |
| Sunflower
Oil |
20%
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69% |
11% |
| Safflower
Oil |
13%
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77% |
10%
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Average data
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Did
you know?
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Extra virgin olive oil naturally contains some of the most powerful antioxidants.
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