The Dr. Says: Answers to olive oil medical questions.

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Nutrition Information of Olives

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Questions from the Mail bag

Brandon asks: Does olive oil harm the beneficial bacteria in our lower GI tract? and why is olive oil good for GI support?

Dr. Deane Replies:  Edible oils should be completely absorbed in the small intestine so there should be no effect on the lower GI tract. If you have a malabsorption problem, where oils are not being absorbed, then the oil would go to feed the bacteria in the large intestine. 

Be wary; phrases like "good for GI support" or "good for prostate support" are medically meaningless, which is why they can be used by nutrition supplement manufacturers to describe their products without interference from the FDA. If they claimed that their product actually treated or prevented a medical condition or disease, then they would have to prove its safety and effectiveness in clinical trials, which of course most supplements could not do. 

Olive Oil has no special effects on the GI tract different from other oils in normal healthy individuals. It is a food source and because food is required by the body, legally you can claim that "olive oil is good for GI support" just as it is "good for lung support" or "good for blood support". You could claim the same for water.

Some people with inflammatory bowel disease report that olive oil calms their attacks. This has not been well proven, nor is it generally recommended but it may theoretically occur because oil is not being absorbed by the inflamed small intestine and the anti-oxidant properties of the oil help symptoms as it passes through.

Question:  Will olive oil get rid of lice? 

Answer:  Check out the web page at www.headliceinfo.com.  They teach people how to get rid of head lice using olive oil. Check out the book and video, both called, "Head Lice to Dead Lice" at Amazon.com. 

Question:   Will olive oil help arthritis?

Answer: I am not aware of any medical benefits that olive oil has in regards to arthritis.

Question:  Are uncured olives off the tree toxic to farm animals or pets?

Answer: : Birds eat olives without ill effect and I have seen my dogs gobble down a few. Ruminants like goats and cows will eat the olive.  The pit is primarily lignin and cellulose, like wood, so is not digested.  In small animals it may present a problem with intestinal obstruction.

Question:  Is olive oil rich in chlorophyll--how much does it have and compared to what is it "rich" in chlorophyll? Is chlorophyll a natural preservative?

Answer:  Chlorophyll is one of the main pigments in olive oil. the chlorophyll content decreases as the fruit matures so olives picked green produce a greener oil with a "grassy" flavor. According to Apostolos Kirisakis, one of the premiere researchers on olive oil components, fresh olive oil contains between 1 to 10 parts per million. Miniscule compared to a portion of spinach. The olive cultivar, weather, pressing method, etc. also determine chlorophyll content. Olives are invariably pressed with some leaves still present so some of the chlorophyll comes from that source. Some producers have been know to deliberately allow leaves in the mill to increase the "grassiness" of the oil. In the light, chlorophyll will promote formation of oxygen radicals and speed up oxidation but in the dark chlorophyll acts as an antioxidant. In current physiological studies, chlorophyll is broken down in the body and has no effect as an oxidant or antioxidant.

Question:  Is there a way to thicken olive oil? I am making a skin moisturizer for my psoriasis. I would like to thicken olive oil into a lotion or paste consistency for ease of application.

Answer:   You could make an emulsion of water and oil like mayonnaise  which would thicken and hydrate. Waxes such as beeswax can be added to make more of a liniment or ointment, heat one pint of olive oil with 1 1/2 ounces of beeswax until melted, cool, add more wax if necessary and repeat. Other ingredients used to thicken emollients are agar, a seaweed extract, methyl cellulose or xanthum gums, both plant extracts, and glycerin. They are all edible and used to thicken everything from ice cream to pancake syrup.

Question:  I have an 4 month old miniature schnauzer with a heart murmur that we started giving a tsp. of olive oil to ( at 8 weeks ) each morning with her kibble. We have been told that cod liver oil would be better.  

Answer:  Cod liver oil is an excellent health additive as far as vitamins.  It is higher than olive oil in Vit. A. Fish oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids known as the omega-3 or n-3 fatty acids which some studies have shown prevent heart disease in humans. Fish oils are also high in the precursors of thromboxanes and prostacyclins, which are important for platelet and vessel wall physiology and may inhibit the formation of blood clots in the coronary arteries. In spite of all this the American Heart Association (AHA) does not recommend general usage of fish oil supplements until more compelling evidence is at hand. (Note that heart murmurs are usually valvular problems and are unrelated to coronary artery disease and clots which are affected by diet.) The AHA does currently recommend a "Mediterranean diet" which predominates in polyunsaturated or monosaturated fats such as is found in olive oil, canola oil, nuts and fish. Olive oil has polyphenols and other antioxidants as well as monosaturated fats which have a salubrious effect on the heart and blood pressure. I am not a veterinarian but I would guess that for the dog,  its a toss-up which oil to use. The calories for both are the same. We haven't discussed taste which we are assuming is not a factor for a dog. Although fish oils are healthy, they would be a hard sell for human consumption as a table spread, salad dressing, baking ingredient, etc. due to taste.

Question:  Canola vs. Olive oil.  Would you be so kind as to comment briefly on the virtues of these two oils. Is one better than the other? If so, why?

Answer:  Canola is rapeseed oil which has been processed to remove toxic chemicals. This process was first perfected in Canada in the 1970's, hence Canola. It is considered a healthy fat as its mostly unsaturated.  Monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are not associated with the increased risk of heart disease to the same extent as saturated fat, present in animal products and some plant sources such as coconut oil, palm kernel oil,  and cocoa butter. Other products with high amounts of monounsaturates include olive oil and high-monounsaturated forms of sunflower seed and safflower oils.  For health purposes olive and canola are probably similar.  I prefer olive oil because it is the only vegetable oil which is edible right after pressing with no need for processing which can remove the natural antioxidants in the oil.  It also has its natural flavor as opposed to canola which has been deodorized during processing

Question:   We are wondering if you can clear up something for us. What is better for you nutritionally olive oil or peanut oil?

Answer:  Peanut and olive oil both are high in monounsaturated fats and in diet studies are equal with regard to lowering cholesterol and triglycerides when compared to a "standard American diet". The health effects of all the other thousands of components in these oils is not well understood. Olive oil is "natural" in that it is one of the few plant oils which is edible as pressed from the plant. Peanut oil must be chemically processed. This may remove healthful anti-oxidants and other natural ingredients.  I would personally prefer extra virgin olive oil because it has an interesting flavor; most peanut oil has had all flavors removed.

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