What makes olive oil healthy?

Both major and minor chemical compounds present make olive oil healthy. Olive oil is a healthy oil as it primarily contains monounsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic acid. Oleic acid, together with antioxidants such as polyphenols and provitamins, makes olive oil healthy.

The main natural compounds that make olive oil healthy are:

•  Healthy fatty acids
  Oleic acid
  Linoleic acid
  Linolenic acid
  
• Polyphenols
  Oleocanthal
  Oleuropein
  Tyrosol
  Hydroxytyrosol
  Oleacein
  
• Provitamins
  Vitamin E (alpha- tocopherol) and other tocopherols
  Carotenoids
  
• Squalene
  
• Beta- sitosterol