Olive

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Heart and diabetes risk²

  Eating more olive oil was linked to lower risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and early death, but not cancer.

• Benefit

  Blood cholesterol levels³

  In people, canola oil lowered LDL and total cholesterol more than olive oil did.

• Concern

  Mouth and skin allergy⁴

  A woman got itchy mouth and hives after eating olive fruit, years after olive pollen allergy.

Study type not stated

• Benefit

  Gut bacteria and heart health⁵

  Olive oil may help gut bacteria, which could support heart and brain health, but scientists are still studying how.

• Benefit

  Heart and blood vessel health⁶

  Olive oil, especially extra virgin, may help lower heart attacks and strokes by easing inflammation and widening blood vessels.

• Open question

  Chemical in stored oil⁷

  Olive oil kept in plastic had more BPA, a chemical also found in some packaging.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least two findings in people. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.