Health effects associated with bioactive molecules in olive oil

Abstract

Olive oil has proved to have many nutritional and medicinal effects. The health benefits of olive oil are extensive and new positive attributes are being discovered very frequently. In addition to bolstering the immune system and helping to protect against viruses, olive oil has also been found to be effective in fighting against diseases such as: cancer, heart disease, oxidative stress, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoporosis. These positive effects are due to the particular composition of olive oil, unique among the vegetables oils, and to the presence of compounds of nutritional importance and bioactive molecules. Therefore, the aim of this chapter is to focus on the bioactive compounds present in olive oil and their relation to health benefits.