Is refined olive oil unhealthy? Is refined olive oil bad for your health?

A refined olive oil may not necessarily be unhealthy. However, it is produced by chemical and high-temperature treatments of poor-quality olive oils.

These chemical and high-temperature treatments:

• alter the oil chemistry and properties
• drive off all the natural chemical species in olive oil responsible for good odor and flavor, and the health benefits, such as small volatile compounds and polyphenols.

On a positive side, a refined olive oil is still high in oleic acid, which is a heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acid.

A refined olive oil is used frequently for high-temperature cooking, such as frying and baking, due to:

• oxidation resistance offered by oleic acid
• affordable price

However, due to a lack of natural healthy chemicals, it is safe to say a refined olive oil will not be as healthy as an extra virgin olive oil.