Olive Oil

Q: I recently read an article by Jean Carper, in the article she said that a study was done at the State University of New York Health Sciences Center using olive oil. 23 men and women ate two tablespoons of olive oil everyday for one month, the results were decreased triglcerides(15%) and increased HDL(14%).  However when I went to the grocery store to purchase some olive oil, the ingredients contained cholesterol and saturated fat. The markings on the bottles said "pure" olive oil.  Do I need to purchase virgin olive oil or is there something I am missing? You can read her article on www.usaweekend.com.

A: Are you sure the olive oil contained cholesterol? Olive oil does contain a very small amount of saturated fat but to my knowledge, no cholesterol. Cholesterol is found in foods of animal origin. If the olive oil is pure it should contain only olive oil. Check the ingredients label to see if there are any other ingredients listed. I have many clients that have had very positive results lowering LDL, and improving HDL cholesterol by using olive oil in their daily diet and removing other transfats, hydrogenated oils, and animal fat. Of course, other contributions to a positive lipid profile include dietary fiber, omega 3 fatty acids found in fish (found to help in lowering triglycerides), and an active lifestyle. Please contact me if I can be of further assistance. 

I hope this helped.  Please contact me for further information or if you have another question!