Olive oil is the primary source of dietary fat in the Mediterranean diet, which has been well-praised for its role in protecting against diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. In a study in Spain, it was found that extra virgin olive oil can lower your risk of developing breast cancer by as much as 66 percent, as previously noted. Here Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD, HealthLine.com, reflects on whether olive oil is good for weight loss:

“Olive oil is made by grinding olives and extracting the oil, which many people enjoy cooking with, drizzling on pizza, pasta, and salad, or using as a dip for bread.

Some of the most well-known benefits of consuming olive oil include its ability to reduce inflammation, support heart health, and lower blood pressure. It may even have potential anticancer effects and protect brain health (1Trusted Source, 2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).

Contains compounds that may promote weight loss

Many of olive oil’s benefits have been observed in the context of following a Mediterranean diet.

This eating pattern is characterized by a high consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, potatoes, legumes, nuts, and seeds. While the diet often incorporates fish, the main fat source is olive oil, and it also limits red meat and sweets (5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source).

Olive oil contains monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which have one unsaturated carbon bond in their chemical composition. MUFAs are typically liquid at room temperature.

One older 4-week study found men with overweight or obesity who replaced saturated fat with monounsaturated fats in their diets experienced small but significant weight loss, compared with a saturated-fat-rich diet, despite no major change in total fat or calorie intake (8Trusted Source).

More recent research agrees that unsaturated fatty acids are likely more beneficial than saturated fats when it comes to healthy weight maintenance (9Trusted Source).

Diets rich in monounsaturated fats have also been shown to prevent weight gain and the accumulation of fat in animal studies (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).

Furthermore, olive oil is a rich source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which have been long studied for their ability to play a role in healthy weight loss and maintenance (12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source, 14Trusted Source).

MCTs are triglycerides that contain fatty acids comprising 6–12 carbon atoms. They’re broken down quickly and absorbed by your liver, where they can be used for energy.

While some studies have found a positive effect of MCTs on weight loss, others have found no effect.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/olive-oil-for-weight-loss#compounds