Is Olive Oil a Health Scam?

Mr. Zhang recently spent half an hour agonizing in front of the supermarket shelf—rows of olive oil products ranging from tens to thousands of yuan, with dazzling slogans like "Mediterranean Secret to Longevity" and "Cardiovascular Guardian"... Does olive oil truly deserve these titles? Today, we dissect the truth behind this "liquid gold" from a scientific perspective.

Lab data shows that extra virgin olive oil contains:

• Monounsaturated fatty acids up to 73%, 2-3 times higher than regular vegetable oils
• Approximately 14mg of vitamin E per 100g, meeting 93% of daily requirements
• Over 30 phenolic compounds, including unique oleuropein

A 2023 report by Zhongshitong Food Testing Center revealed:

• Over 65% of consumers use olive oil for high-temperature stir-frying (smoke point only 190-210°C)
• 42% of households store olive oil near stoves (light accelerates oxidation)
• Nearly 80% cannot distinguish between "refined olive oil" and "extra virgin"

1. Extra virgin for cold dishes: Preserves polyphenols intact
2. Refined olive oil for frying: Safer with 240°C smoke point
3. Store away from light and oxygen: Use dark glass bottles and consume within 60 days after opening

Food engineers suggest zoning oils—e.g., olive oil for low-temperature cooking paired with camellia oil for high-temperature cooking.

Comparative experiments show:
• Cardiovascular prevention: Olive oil scores 85, camellia oil 88, flaxseed oil 91

• Antioxidant capacity: Extra virgin olive oil 100, but perilla seed oil reaches 120
• Cost-effectiveness: Mixed oil usage delivers better results at the same budget

Nutrition science increasingly advocates "oil rotation," just as no one eats only one vegetable.

Next time you're at the supermarket shelf, ask yourself:
1. What are my primary cooking methods?

2. Any special health needs among family members?
3. Are there nutritional gaps in current oil combinations?

Share your oil usage tips in the comments or showcase your oil collection—the top-voted reader might receive our Scientific Oil Usage Handbook.