live oil is the natural oil extracted from olives, the fruit of the olive tree.
About 13.8%Trusted Source of the oil is saturated fat, whereas 10.5% is polyunsaturated, such as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
However, olive oil’s predominant fatty acid is oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat that makes up 71% of the total oil content.
Studies suggest that oleic acid reducesTrusted Source inflammation and oxidative stress, and may even have beneficial effects on genes linked toTrusted Source cancer.
Monounsaturated fats are also quite resistantTrusted Source to high heat, making extra virgin olive oil a healthy choice for cooking.
Extra virgin olive oil contains modest amounts of vitamins.
For example, 1 tablespoon (tbsp) contains 13%Trusted Source of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin E and 7% of the DV for vitamin K.
But olive oil is also loaded with powerful antioxidants that are biologically activeTrusted Source. These may help reduce your risk of chronic diseases that affect your cardiovascular and central nervous system.
Antioxidants also fightTrusted Source inflammation and help protect blood cholesterol from oxidation — two benefits that may lower your risk of heart disease.