Olive oil prolongs life
Composition of olive oil
- Vitamin E (3-30 mg)
- Provitamin A (carotene)
- Monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic) 56 – 83
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids, non-fatty acids (linoleic) 3.5 – 20%
- Polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic) 0 – 1.5%
- Saturated fatty acids 8 – 23.5%
- 9 calories per gram
Olive oil, the healthiest of all fats
Olive oil is the healthiest fat substitute in any diet because it contains 77% unsaturated fatty acids and is cholesterol-free. It contains no salt, and just one tablespoonful provides us with 8% of our daily requirement of vitamin E. Olive oil has no vegetable proteins, as found in wheat and rye, and to a weaker degree in barley and oats, but not in one hundred percent pure olive oil.
Olive oil and calories
Does olive oil have more calories than other oils used for cooking? The answer is: No. Olive oil contains 120 calories per tablespoon. To give food full flavour and aroma, you only need a little of it, and the calorie consumption is kept within limits.
Source: Lambraki, Myrsini (1999): Olivenöl. Besser essen, länger leben, Heraklion-Kreta, Griechenland.