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Olive oil being poured into a spoon being held over a bowl

Answer:

No, probably not. Taking olive oil as a supplement is not likely as healthful as using extra virgin olive oil in foods to replace saturated fats.

Sign in as a member for details, including the best way to use olive oil in the diet (as well as the best way to cook with and store olive oil), and information about whether olive oil has demonstrated benefit for reducing the risk of heart disease or improving blood sugar control, as well as reasons why olive oil may not be as beneficial as some other oils, and possible concerns with using olive oil as a supplement.

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12 Comments

Mark22670
April 30, 2025

One of the reported values of olive oil supplementation was consuming high concentrations of polyphenols. Can ConsumerLab assess the therapeutic value of olive oil polyphenols? And then assess the polyphenol content of olive oils.

ConsumerLab.com
May 01, 2025

We've tested popular extra virgin olive oils for their polyphenol content (as well as for oleic acid, oxidation, and sensory testing) in our Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review. See "What CL Found" in the Review for amounts of polyphenols we found in products https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/extra-virgin-olive-oil-review/evoo/#polyphenols. The amount of polyphenols in each product is also listed in the 5th column of the results table https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/extra-virgin-olive-oil-review/evoo/#results.

You can also learn more about the potential health benefits of olive oil polyphenols in the Review https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/extra-virgin-olive-oil-review/evoo/#george.

Mireille21258
December 03, 2024

I had severe reflux, and my doctor told me to take one tablespoon of olive oil a day. Within a week the reflux was completely gone. I have now been taking it for about 3 months and reflux has not returned.
I cannot swallow a tablespoonful of oil so I use a piece of very good bread to ingest it.

ConsumerLab.com
December 10, 2024

Thanks for sharing your experience. We've added information about taking olive oil for acid reflux to the following section of our Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review: https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/extra-virgin-olive-oil-review/evoo/#acid-reflux

Rita17764
October 09, 2022

What about Olive Leaf Extract? Does that have benefits to blood pressure?

ConsumerLab.com
October 09, 2022

Please see our Olive Leaf Extract Supplements Review, which discusses the clinical evidence for olive leaf extract and lowering blood pressure, and includes our tests and Top Picks among products https://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/olive-leaf-extract-herbal-supplements/olive-leaf/.

FRED17762
October 07, 2022

THANX, Guys, I needed this information.

Alena17756
October 04, 2022

I would like clarification of your "probably not" response. If you have already taken saturated fats out of your diet, and on a particular day you are not consuming items that would have contained olive oil substituted fats , why would it not be of benefit to consume olive oil directly?

ConsumerLab.com
October 07, 2022

One study did show that adding olive oil (4 tablespoons per day) or mixed nuts (30 grams per day) to a Mediterranean diet provided cardiovascular benefits compared to a Mediterranean diet that restricted olive oil consumption, as discussed in the Cardiovascular disease section of our Extra Virgin Olive Oil Review. But the findings may have more to do with properly following a Mediterranean diet than supplementing with olive oil.

Erik17753
October 04, 2022

During the past several months, I have been consuming 3 tablespoons of California Olive Ranch Everyday Extra Virgin Olive Oil each morning with a button of organic honey, in addition to a regimented diet of organic nuts, berries, chicken, spinach, flax milk, green tea, local grass fed beef, Ezekiel products, cut back carbs by 50%, etc... coupled with exercise from regular rowing and biking. At age 58, my 144 total cholesterol and 47 triglycerides are immensely better than 15 years ago (239 total cholesterol) and I have avoided a statins prescription (though I do take Cholestene and Nordic Naturals fish oil OTC). My simple goal has always been to equal my 1987 wedding weight (6'1" and 192 lbs.). This morning, I was 187 lbs. It may not be either fun or glamorous (I haven't had a soda for nearly 9 years), but food and exercise discipline does work in the long run as I will do my best to avoid high blood pressure, cholesterol, dementia, etc... that adversely affected others in my family.

ConsumerLab.com
October 04, 2022

You are certainly doing many good things to keep in-shape and lower your cholesterol! However, the olive oil itself may not be that influential -- unless it is helping you avoid less healthful sources of fat.

RANDALL17752
October 04, 2022

As someone who has reactive hypoglycemia, adding fats through oils is very beneficial. I take a tablespoon of avocado oil with every meal. Ever since I started doing that more than six months ago, I can go longer between meals without any sugar drops. I rarely get sleepy spells, and other symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia have disappeared. My mood is better, and I simply feel better. I did try grapeseed oil, but it has an after taste.

Maybe others have used olive oil and can comment

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