OLIVE OIL IS MORE FATTENING THAN SEED OIL.
FALSE: All cooking fats and therefore both seed and olive oil, provide 9kcal per gram of oil.
OLIVE OIL IS MORE EASILY DIGESTED THAN SEED OIL OR OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
TRUE: Olive oil has an elevated concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids one of which is oleic acid. The latter has been shown to be very quickly absorbed in the intestine and stimulates the body's production of bile, necessary for normal digestion.
OLIVE OIL IS PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDED FOR THE ELDERLY.
TRUE: Olive oil is particularly recommended for the elderly as well as children, as it has a high percentage of oleic acid, linoeic acid and linolenic acid (essential fatty acids, important in the synthesis of hormones and other biological substances). In fact, olive oil combines the benefits of a highly digestible fat with antioxidant properties - a condiment with a perfect balance of saturated fatty acids, monounsaturates and polyunsaturates that helps modify the level of cholesterol in the blood, reducing LDL's (Low Density Lipoproteins) and retaining HDL's (High Density Lipoproteins), thus changing the LDL/HDL ratio. This undoubtedly has positive consequences in the prevention, amongst other things, of arteriosclerosis.
